Pakistan Election 2024 Live:  US strongly condemn election-related violence in Pakistan

Condemning election-related violence in Pakistan, the US State Department expressed concerns about the steps taken to restrict freedom of expression in the country, reported Reuters

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Balochistan people ‘unequivocally reject fraudulent Pakistan polls,’ says Baloch American Congress President

Baloch American Congress President Tara Chand said that the people of Balochistan have “unequivocally rejected” the “fraudulent” elections in Pakistan, reported ANI.                                                                                               “The courageous people of Balochistan have unequivocally rejected Pakistan’s fraudulent elections, sending a resounding message to the world. Engaging in electoral processes in Balochistan only serves to prolong Pakistan’s military operation and perpetuate a state of oppression,” Tara Chand said in a posted on X

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Pakistan’s PTI claims poll results being delayed as Imran’s candidates emerge victorious

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has claimed that election results across the country are being delayed after Imran Khan’s candidate emerged victorious, reported English daily Dawn.                                                                                     “There are reports of closure of the screens in the offices of returning officers in several circles,” PTI’s Omary Ayub alleged in a video message on social media platform X.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Interim PM Anwaarul Haq Kakar congratulates the nation for ‘successful conduct’ of the general elections

Shortly after polling concluded across Pakistan, interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar congratulated the nation for the “successful conduct” of the general elections.

In a post on X, he said the high voter turnout today was a clear indication of the public commitment to shaping the future of the country.

“The voices, expressed through the votes, will contribute to the fortification of our democracy, and for that, the people of Pakistan deserve every bit of appreciation,” he wrote.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live:  Pakistan military hopes election will serve as ‘catalyst for strengthening democracy’

Pakistan’s military expressed its hope that the outcome of the polls would serve as a “catalyst for further strengthening democracy” in the coup-prone country.                                                                                                                       “It is our fervent hope that our sacrifices would not be in vain and this election will serve as a catalyst for further strengthening democracy in Pakistan, and that it will pave the way for the realisation of the aspirations of the people of Pakistan,” ISPR, the media wing of the military, said in a statement

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Media, polling agents barred from entering Islamabad’s NA-48 RO office, says report

According to a report by Express Tribune, media representatives and polling agents have been restricted from entering the Returning Officer (RO) office in the Islamabad’s NA-48 constituency.

A heavy contingent of police and FC has been deployed outside the RO office, and an armoured vehicle has also been called in, along with a request for tear gas shells.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Transportation of election material went hassle-free, says CEC

Pakstan’s Chief Election Commission Sikandar Sultan Raja in Thursday expressed contentment over the overall conduct of the polls and congratulated all Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) officials for their efforts.

In a video statement, he said that the transportation of election material went hassle-free.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Cellular services partially restored across country, says Interior Ministry

After hours of suspension, Interior Ministry, in a short statement, has said that the mobile phone services have started to resume partially in various parts of the country.

It further said that the cellular services will be completely restored throughout the country soon.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: PTI’s Hammad Azhar questions failure in restoring phone networks

PTI’s Hammad Azhar has questioned the failure in restoring phone networks, reported The Dawn. “Which security situation is in danger now?” he asked in a social media post.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Caretaker PM applauds citizens for high voter turnout

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Thursday applauded the nation over the successful conduct of general elections, saying the high voter turnout was a clear indication of public commitment to shaping the country’s future.

“The participation and enthusiasm of the people of Pakistan have been the cornerstone of this democratic exercise. The high voter turnout is a clear indication of public commitment to shaping the future of our country,” the prime minister wrote on his X handle.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar refutes reports of an attack on his life

MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar refuted reports of an attack on his life and said he is safe inside his election office, reported The Dawn. 

In a video statement shared by journalist Naimat Khan, Sattar said, as The Dawn quoted, “These rumours that my car was attacked and I was injured are false. These fake reports are being spread to create panic.”

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: PPP’s Saeed Ghani shares video of presiding officer claiming ballot papers snatched

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Will not tolerate any election result tampering, says PTI-backed candidate Rehana Dar

PTI-backed candidate Rehana Dar claimed the returning officer in her constituency was not letting her enter the polling station, reported The Dawn.

“I have a clear understanding of his intentions, he wants to facilitate Khawaja Asif in a closed room,” she alleged, warning no tampering of election results will be tolerated.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Amnesty slams Pakistan’s internet shutdown

Slaming the internet shutdown and suspension of the cellular service on election day in Pakistan, Amnesty International referred it as a ‘reckless attack on people’s rights’.

“The decision to suspend telecommunications and mobile internet services on an election day is a blunt attack on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” Livia Saccardi, Interim Deputy Director for South Asia at Amnesty International, said in a post on the micro-blogging site ‘X’, formerly called Twitter.

“It is reckless to impede access to information as people head out to polling stations on the heels of devastating bomb blasts and what has been an intense crackdown on the opposition in the lead up to the elections in the country,” Saccardi added.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Elections were 100% transparent and peaceful, says CEC

Amid the political parties, and human rights organisations decried the unexpected suspension of cellular and internet services, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja said today’s electoral process was ‘100 per cent transparent and peaceful’, reported Express Tribune.

Addressing the media after the polling time concluded, the CEC said, as quoted by ET, “No citizen was prevented from casting their vote. Where connectivity is an issue, the concerned Presiding Officer will personally go to the office of the concerned Returning Officer and issue Form 45.”

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Results to be announced on time, says ECP spokesperson

ECP spokesperson Haroon Shinwari on Thursday said the results of the elections would be announced on time, adding that internet outages would not affect the electoral watchdog’s system, reported The Dawn.

Pakistan witnessed a countrywide internet and cellular outage during the electoral process. Earlier in the day, the Interior Ministry said services were suspended owing to the security situation.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: 76 poll-related complaints received, resolved, says ECP

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday said it has resolved 76 poll-related complaints, which were received throughout the day, reported The Dawn.

According to the ECP spokesperson, most of the complaints were of a ‘normal nature’ involving confrontations between political workers in different areas which were resolved on the spot.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Don’t leave polling stations without taking Form 45, urges PTI to supporters

Former PM Imran Khan’s PTI has urged supporters not to leave polling stations without collecting the Form 45.

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan, Form 45 is known as the statement of the count. It is supposed to show the number of valid votes for each contesting candidate and ballot papers excluded from the count.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Polling concludes across Pakistan as clock hits 5 pm

Marred by rigging allegations and cellular and internet outages, the polling in Pakistan concluded at 5 pm, reported The Dawn. The voting process began at 8 am. 

The Election Commission of Pakistan had earlier said that exceptions would only be made for people already inside the polling station. “Individuals already present within the premises/precincts of the polling station are still allowed to cast their votes even after the stipulated time has passed,” the election commission said in a statement shortly before the official close.

With the country voted in general elections, at least nine people lost their lives, including two children, in militant attacks on Thursday. The administration had earlier suspended mobile phone services and closed land borders to maintain law and order.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Polling to end at 5 pm, reiterates ECP

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reiterated that polling across the nation will end at 5 pm.

In a statement on X, the electoral watchdog said exceptions would be made for people already inside the polling station.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Balochistan will deliver results after 5pm, says caretaker minister

Caretaker Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai on 8 February said, as reported by The Dawn, the electoral process in the province is running smoothly until now and hoped that the same would continue until evening.

“The condition is peaceful in the province and people are coming out to cast their vote,” he said, adding that “terrorists have lost.”

“Like other provinces, Balochistan will deliver results after 5pm,” the minister said.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Majority of voters received polling details via messaging service, says CEC Raja

Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja on 8 February said that “the majority of the voters received polling information by messaging 8300″, as he stated that the electoral watchdog was receiving on average 1.5 to 2 million messages each day.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he said, as quoted by The Dawn, that the messaging service had been functional since January 29.

He further said that voter registration details were present with the provincial election commissioners as well.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: ‘Worst-ever political engineering’, alleges Imran Khan’s PTI 

PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan has said that the country is witnessing the worst-ever political engineering in the history of Pakistan to keep Khan’s party from winning the polls. “It has been by all means is the worst ever political engineering through all phases of the elections to keep the PTI out of the election process and achieve the desired result,” Hasan was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

“A reign of terror has been unleashed on the party for the past 22 months under the ‘London Plan’ to dismantle PTI and remove its founding chairman Imran Khan from the political scene,” Hasan said.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Sindh CM casts vote in Karachi’s PECHS

Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (Retd) Maqbool Baqar is casting Vote at Government Boys Secondary School, Block 6, PECH Society, Karachi, Sindh.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Mobile service suspension cannot hamper his agency’s work, says Pakistan’s CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja

Replying on the suspension of mobile services in Pakistan Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja had said its Election Management System is not dependent on the Internet and its work will not be affected due to it.

Raja told media persons, as quoted by Indian Express, “Our system is not dependent on it (mobile services). Our system is not independent of the Internet, we have clarified it earlier too. There will be no impact on our preparation because of this.” 

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: JI requests ECP to immediately restore internet services

Jamaat-i-Islami’s Karachi wing on 8 February requested the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to immediately restore internet services, reported the Dawn.

“The chances of rigging have greatly increased with the shutdown of mobile and internet services,” it said in a post on X. “The election commission should take notice and restore the service.”

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Grenade attacks reported across Balochistan

Grenade attacks were reported in different parts of Balochistan on 8 February, but polling in Pakistani region remained unaffected since there were no casualties, news agency Reuters quoted Saeed Ahmed Umrani, commissioner of the Makran division as saying. 

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: 4 police officials killed in bomb blast, shooting

Four police officials were killed in a bomb blast and shooting in Northwest Pakistan, the news agency Reuters said quoting police.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Imran Khan’s party says its polling agents picked by police in Punjab province

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan’s party on Thursday claimed that polling in several areas of Pakistan’s Punjab province of Pakistan began on Thursday without the presence of its agents, some of whom were picked by the police to make rigging easier in the elections.

Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidates are contesting the polls independently after the Supreme Court upheld the decision of the election commission to deprive his party of its iconic election symbol cricket ‘bat’. The PTI has alleged that the police removed its polling camps.

“At several polling stations in the constituencies, including those of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, his brother Shehbaz Sharif and daughter Maryam Nawaz the polling even began without the presence of the polling agents of the PTI in Lahore,” party leader from Lahore Wasim Ahmad told this correspondent. (PTI)

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Pakistan votes for a new parliament as militant attacks surge and jailed leader’s party cries foul

Pakistanis braved cold winter weather and the threat of violence to vote for a new parliament Thursday, a day after twin bombings claimed at least 30 lives in the worst election-related violence ahead of the contested balloting.

Tens of thousands of security forces were deployed at polling stations and authorities suspended mobile phone services across the country to prevent disruptions and flash protests. Pakistan’s Interior Ministry said the decision was made to maintain law and order. It did not say when the suspension would be lifted. (AP)

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Imran Khan casts vote through postal ballot

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and other political leaders who are currently incarcerated have cast their votes through a postal ballot from Adiala Jail, Pakistan-based Dawn reported, citing sources.

People in Pakistan began voting on Thursday, with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and other leaders of the party, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, currently in prison.

Other leaders who have managed to vote through mail include Pakistan’s former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid, and former information minister Fawad Chaudhry. (ANI)

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Pakistan votes in general elections tainted by rigging claims

People in Pakistan on Thursday voted in the general elections in which former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is hoping to secure a record fourth term with the backing of the powerful military amid a crackdown on his rival Imran Khan’s party and rising in violence.

Amidst tight security, the polling started at 8.00 AM and will continue without any break till 5.00 PM.

Soon after the voting started, mobile services in Pakistan were suspended due to the “deteriorating security situation”, a day after twin terror attacks killed at least 30 people. (PTI)

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Polling operations faced delays due to technical glitches

Polling operations at various stations throughout the country have encountered significant delays owing to a range of technical and logistical impediments, hindering the commencement of the electoral process, Pakistan-based Samaa reported.

In Hyderabad’s NA-220 constituency, the distribution of essential polling materials remains pending, thereby preventing the deployment of polling staff crucial for NA-220’s electoral proceedings.

According to Samaa, district Returning Officer Tariq Qureshi underscored that the transmission of materials hinges upon the credentials possessed solely by the Returning Officer (RO), comprising an ID and password requisite for system access.

Meanwhile, at PS-2 in Thal, polling initiation faces setbacks due to incomplete preparations at the polling station. Similarly, in Ghotki, the commencement of polling at NA-198 Dharki has been stalled due to the absence of designated agents, as reported by Samaa.

Furthermore, in Karachi’s Punjab Colony, polling activity remains suspended at NA-232 polling stations due to the unavailability of polling boxes alongside the conspicuous absence of polling agents. (ANI)

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Voting underway at polling booth in Peshawar| WATCH

Voting is underway at a polling booth in Peshawar for the Pakistan parliamentary general elections. 

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: ‘There are expectations that Nawaz Sharif will return’, says former High Commission of India to Pak

Pakistan parliamentary elections are not just the most predictable, but also the most rigged ones because there is a widespread expectation that it will be possible be a select Nawaz Sharif and his PMLN party, said Ajay Bisara, former High Commissioner of India to Pakistan.

Speaking to ANI, Bisaria said, “From all accounts, these elections on 8th February are not just the most predictable, but also the most rigged, because it’s clear for everyone in Pakistan if you see the commentary that is coming from within the country.

“The election results are clear, the army in various ways is doing pre-election engineering, it will probably do some election engineering and post-election engineering to get a government that it wants in place,” he said.

“It is said that it will possibly be a selection of Nawaz Sharif and his PMLN party, I think that is a widespread expectation, and that’s fairly accurate…,” the official added.

Pakistan general elections are set to be held on February 8 after months of delay. The country has been at the center of political, economic, and even judicial drama over the past year. However, many voters still wonder if the balloting can bring any real change in the country.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Pakistan closes land borders to secure voting

Pakistan temporarily suspended mobile phone services across the country on Thursday and closed some land borders to maintain law and order as voting began in a national election that has been preceded by a surge in militant violence.

In the most recent such incidents, 26 people were killed in two explosions near electoral candidates’ offices in the southwestern province of Balochistan on Wednesday. Islamic State later claimed responsibility. (Reuters)

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: ‘Mobile phone services must be restored immediately..,’ says Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

As mobile services remain suspended in Pakistan amid the ongoing polls, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari demanded the immediate restoration of mobile phone services across the country.

PPP leader Bilawal took to his social media X, stating that he has asked his party to approach both, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the courts for the same.

“Mobile phone services must be restored immediately across the country have asked my party to approach both ECP and the courts for this purpose,” he posted on X.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: ‘Army is doing pre-election engineering,’ says former diplomat Ajay Bisaria

Former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria has said the Pakistan general elections are the most predictable, and the most rigged.

“These elections on February 8 are not just the most predictable, but also the most rigged, because it’s clear for everyone in Pakistan, if you see the commentary that is coming from within Pakistan, that the election results are clear, that the army in various ways is doing pre-election engineering, it will probably do some election engineering and post-election engineering to get a government that it wants in place,” Bisaria said. (ANI)

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Nawaz Sharif, Bilawal Bhutto to Imran Khan – Key contenders and their stand on India

1. Nawaz Sharif

Nawaz Sharif is a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party. He is the only Pakistani politician who became the prime minister of the coup-prone country for a record three times. However, each term has ended with his ousting from power, in 1993, 1999 and 2017. He has been dubbed as the “Lion of Punjab”.

Stand on India

Nawaz Sharif promised a ‘Message of Peace’ to India in his party manifesto. But this promise was on the condition that New Delhi would revert its August 2019 decision (abrogation of Article 370) on Kashmir, Pakistani media Dawn reported while quoting the manifesto.

2. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari

Bilawal Bhutto is the chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). He is the son of Benazir Bhutto, the world’s first Muslim woman leader, who was twice elected prime minister and assassinated in 2007. His father Asif Ali Zardari served as the 11th president of Pakistan from September 2008 to September 2013. He has been dubbed as a millennial candidate.

Stand on India

In May 2023, when he was the foreign minister of Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto had criticized India for hosting a tourism conference in the disputed region of Kashmir under its control. He even accused India of “abusing” its G20 presidency. He had also objected to the abrogation of Article 370.

In a video, he could be heard saying that his party PPP always advocated the normalisation of ties with India, However, amid the India-Canada diplomatic row, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said it was time for the international community to accept that India had become a “rogue Hindutva terrorist state”, Dawn reported.

2. Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, the main opposition leader, cannot fight this year’s general election. He has been barred from contesting the polls following a series of jail sentences. His party PTI had won the 2018 general election and he became the prime minister until his ouster in a no-confidence vote in 2022.

Despite being in jail, Imran Khan’s influence still looms large. According to Reuters, the PTI will hope to exploit supporters’ sympathy and anger and repeat its 2018 victory. But amidst a continuing standoff with the military, PTI’s prospects hinge on a detente with the generals, which looks unlikely.

Imran Khan’s stance on India

In June 2023, Imran Khan had said it was supposed to be a quid-pro-quo relationship with India. “India was supposed to give some sort of a road map for Kashmir and I was then going to hos Narendra Modi in Pakistan…but that never materialised,” he said in an interview with the Atlantic Council, a prominent US-based think tank.

In 2019, Imran Khan had asked his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to “give peace a chance” and assured him that he “stands by” his words and will “immediately act” if New Delhi provides Islamabad with “actionable intelligence” on the Pulwama attack. Later in 2021, Khan had welcomed the ceasefire agreement with India and said Islamabad remains ready to move forward to resolve “all outstanding issues” through dialogue.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: ‘Elections in Pakistan neither free nor fair, real power to be held by army,’ says Former Indian diplomat

Former Indian diplomat KP Fabian has said elections in Pakistan will be neither free nor fair and that the real power will be held by the country’s army chief.

The Pakistan “election will be neither fair nor free. Whoever becomes prime minister, real power is held by the army chief who is not standing for election,” the former Indian diplomat said.

He said Pakistan is in deep disarray politically, economically and on a wider social basis because of terrorism.

“In the meantime, Pakistan opposition leader Imran Khan and his wife are in jail. Imran Khan had every right to tell the people of Pakistan that America was putting pressure to make sure that confidence motion on him succeeds. But then he is put in jail. So, the charges against him do not stand scrutiny,” Fabian said. (ANI)

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Pakistanis say vote matters despite alleged election rigging

Pakistanis turning out early for Thursday’s election said they believe their votes count, despite allegations of rigging in the nation’s most fractious poll in recent history.

“I believe in democracy and I think my vote matters,” said 22-year-old psychology student Haleema Shafiq, among the first to vote in the capital Islamabad.

“I cast my vote as it’s my duty,” she told AFP inside a polling station. “I wish for a deserving party to come to power.”

Polls opened at 8:00 am (0300 GMT) for 128 million eligible voters, with the first participants trickling into the Noorpur Shahan girl’s school and inking their fingers to stamp papers in gender-segregated booths. (AFP)

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: ‘We are all in this together & we will win together,’ says PTI after govt bans mobile services on election day

 In a post on X, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said, “Pakistanis, the illegitimate, fascist regime has blocked cell phone services across Pakistan on polling day. You are all requested to counter this cowardly act by removing passwords from your personal WiFi accounts, so anyone in the vicinity can have access to the internet on this extremely important day. We are all in this together & we will win together!” 

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Pakistan: 22 killed, several injured in blasts outside candidates’ offices in Balochistan

A day ahead of the general elections in Pakistan, two blasts took place on Wednesday near electoral candidates’ offices in Balochistan, Reuters reported quoting local officials. As per the report, the blasts killed 22 people, raising concerns over security in the lead-up to Thursday’s polls.

Pakistan goes to the polls amid rising militant attacks in recent months and the jailing of Imran Khan, the winner of the last national election, who has been dominating the headlines despite an economic crisis and other woes threatening the nuclear-armed country. The explosions occurred despite tens of thousands of police and paramilitary personnel stationed around Pakistan to maintain order in the wake of a recent spike in militant strikes, particularly in Balochistan.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: ‘Pakistan general elections most predictable, most rigged,’ says Former High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria

Former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria has said the Pakistan general elections are the most predictable, the most rigged.

“These elections on February 8 are not just the most predictable, but also the most rigged, because it’s clear for everyone in Pakistan, if you see the commentary that is coming from within Pakistan, that the election results are clear, that the army in various ways is doing pre-election engineering, it will probably do some election engineering and post-election engineering to get a government that it wants in place,” Bisaria said.

“It is said that it will possibly be a selection of Nawaz Sharif and his Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) party. So I think that is a widespread expectation, and that’s fairly accurate,” Bisaria added. (ANI)

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: 1 policeman killed in firing on polling station in Pak’s Tank 

One policeman was allegedly killed in firing on a polling station in Pakistan’s Tank region, Reuters reported.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: More than 17,000 candidates to contest elections in Pakistan

More than 17,000 candidates will be contesting today’s elections in Pakistan, Dawn reported.

Voters will elect 266 candidates to the Pakistan National Assembly, who will later, by a majority vote, elect the next prime minister.

Simultaneously, voters will also elect representatives to their respective provincial assemblies, who will then elect the provincial chief executives under a similar process.

Meanwhile, elections have been postponed in one national and three provincial assembly constituencies due to the deaths of contesting candidates. This includes NA-8 (Bajaur), PK-22 (Bajaur), PK-91 (Kohat) and PP-266 (Rahim Yar Khan). Voters elsewhere will cast two votes each — one for each of the two assemblies. (ANI)

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: ‘No govt instructions to block internet during polls,’ says Pakistan Telecom Authority

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has said that internet services will remain functional on Thursday as the people are voting to elect a new government.

The PTA in a statement on Wednesday said it had not yet received any instructions from the government to shut internet and that services would work without any interruption on Thursday.

Many non-governmental organisations, including Amnesty International, had called for uninterrupted internet access across the country during the polling process.

“We, the undersigned organisations and members of the #KeepItOn coalition – a global network of over 300 organisations from 105 countries working to end internet shutdowns – appeal to you, Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar and Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, to publicly commit to ensuring that the people of Pakistan have unfettered access to the internet, social media platforms, and all other communication channels throughout the upcoming general election on February 8, 2024,” the London-based NGO said. (PTI)

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Nawaz Sharif, Bilawal Bhutto to Imran Khan – Key contenders and their stand on India

1. Nawaz Sharif

Nawaz Sharif is a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party. He is the only Pakistani politician who became the prime minister of the coup-prone country for a record three times. However, each term has ended with his ousting from power, in 1993, 1999 and 2017. He has been dubbed as the “Lion of Punjab”.

Stand on India: Nawaz Sharif promised a ‘Message of Peace’ to India in his party manifesto. But this promise was on the condition that New Delhi would revert its August 2019 decision (abrogation of Article 370) on Kashmir, Pakistani media Dawn reported while quoting the manifesto.

2. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari

Bilawal Bhutto is the chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). He is the son of Benazir Bhutto, the world’s first Muslim woman leader, who was twice elected prime minister and assassinated in 2007. His father Asif Ali Zardari served as the 11th president of Pakistan from September 2008 to September 2013. He has been dubbed as a millennial candidate.

Stand on India: In May 2023, when he was the foreign minister of Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto had criticized India for hosting a tourism conference in the disputed region of Kashmir under its control. He even accused India of “abusing” its G20 presidency. He had also objected to the abrogation of Article 370.

3. Imran Khan

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, the main opposition leader, cannot fight this year’s general election. He has been barred from contesting the polls following a series of jail sentences. His party PTI had won the 2018 general election and he became the prime minister until his ouster in a no-confidence vote in 2022.

Imran Khan’s stance on India: In June 2023, Imran Khan had said it was supposed to be a quid-pro-quo relationship with India. “India was supposed to give some sort of a road map for Kashmir and I was then going to hos Narendra Modi in Pakistan…but that never materialised,” he said this in an interview with the Atlantic Council, a prominent US-based think tank.

In 2019, Imran Khan had asked his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to “give peace a chance” and assured him that he “stands by” his words and will “immediately act” if New Delhi provides Islamabad with “actionable intelligence” on the Pulwama attack. Later in 2021, Khan had welcomed the ceasefire agreement with India and said Islamabad remains ready to move forward to resolve “all outstanding issues” through dialogue.

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: Pakistan cites ‘terrorism’ for shutting mobile phone services on election day

Pakistan suspended mobile phone services nationwide Thursday as voting began in the general election, saying the measure was an attempt to maintain order ahead of expected turmoil around the controversial polls, Bloomberg reported.

“Given recent surge in terrorist incidents, it has been decided to shut mobile services nationwide temporarily to maintain the law and order situation and tackle threats,” the nation’s interior ministry said in a statement.

The statement didn’t say how long the services would be stopped. Some mobile phones were still working as of 8:17 a.m. local time. (Bloomberg)

Pakistan Election 2024 Live: More than 17,000 candidates to contest elections in Pakistan

More than 17,000 candidates will be contesting today’s elections in Pakistan, Dawn reported.

Voters will elect 266 candidates to the Pakistan National Assembly, who will later, by a majority vote, elect the next prime minister.

Simultaneously, voters will also elect representatives to their respective provincial assemblies, who will then elect the provincial chief executives under a similar process.

Meanwhile, elections have been postponed in one national and three provincial assembly constituencies due to the deaths of contesting candidates. This includes NA-8 (Bajaur), PK-22 (Bajaur), PK-91 (Kohat) and PP-266 (Rahim Yar Khan). Voters elsewhere will cast two votes each — one for each of the two assemblies. (ANI)