ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja has hoped that the election process will be “free and fair” in the country. He added that the elections will be concluded safely.
He expressed these remarks while talking to media persons in Islamabad. He added “We have clarified several times that our system is not dependent on the internet.” He maintained that the internet will not affect their preparations.
He further added that the Election Commission of Pakistan did not give any instructions to the interior ministry about internet services.
Elections 2024
Earlier, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry has decided to “temporarily suspend mobile services across the country” in light of the “deteriorating security situation” local media reported.
ملک میں دہشت گردی کے حالیہ واقعات کے نتیجے میں قیمتی جانوں کا ضیاع ہوا ہے، امن وامان کی صورتحال کو قائم رکھنے اور ممکنہ خطرات سے نمٹنے کے لیے حفاظتی اقدامات ناگزیر ہیں، اس لیے ملک بھر میں موبائل سروس کو عارضی طور پر معطل کرنے کا فیصلہ کیا گیا ہے۔ ترجمان وزارت داخلہ
— Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) February 8, 2024
In a statement, the interior ministry said, “Recent surge in terrorist activities resulting in precious lives have stirred security environment in Pakistan.” Therefore, it said, “need has arisen to take steps to safeguard against” security threats.
Polling for Pakistan’s one-day general elections has started across the nation, local media reported. Voters have started reaching polling stations to cast their votes to elect a new government for the next term. Polling started at 8:00 a.m. local time and will continue uninterrupted till 5:00 p.m. in the evening.
The PML-N, PPP, MQM-P, JUI-F, PML-Q, TLP, JI, ANP and other regional and religious parties are vying for their share of the political pie with the beleaguered PTI fielding its candidates as independents. The Free and Fair Elections Network (FAFEN) reports that as many as 111 political parties have nominated 275 female candidates for the upcoming general elections, representing 4.6 percent of the total of 6,037 candidates.
