RAWALPINDI, FEB 10 (DNA) – COAS Gen. Syed Asim Munir has congratulated the entire Pakistani Nation, Caretaker Government, Election Commission of Pakistan, Political Parties and all winning candidates on successful conduct of General Elections 2024. Free and unhindered participation by Pakistani people to exercise their right of vote demonstrated their commitment to democracy and the rule of law as enshrined in Constitution of Pakistan.

Leadership and personnel of law-enforcement agencies deserve our highest appreciation for creating a safe and secure environment for the electoral process, despite overwhelming odds. The constructive role played by national media, civil society, members of civil administration and judiciary enabled the successful conduct of the largest electoral exercise in national history.

Pakistan’s diverse polity and pluralism will be well-represented by a unified government of all democratic forces imbibed with national purpose. Elections and democracy are means to serve people of Pakistan and not ends in themselves. The nation needs stable hands and a healing touch to move on from the politics of anarchy and polarisation which does not suit a progressive country of 250 Million people. Elections are not a zero-sum competition of winning and losing but an exercise to determine the mandate of the people.

Political leadership and their workers should rise above self-interests and synergise efforts in governing and serving the people which is perhaps the only way to make democracy functional and purposeful.

As the people of Pakistan have reposed their combined trust in the Constitution of Pakistan, it is now incumbent upon all political parties to reciprocate the same with political maturity and unity. As we move forward from this national milestone we must reflect on where the country stands today and where our rightful place should be in the comity of nations.

COAS wishes that these elections bring in political and economic stability and prove to be the harbinger of peace and prosperity for our beloved Pakistan.

Glad to see more women participating in the drill

ISLAMABAD, FEB 10 (DNA) – Australia notes the initial results of Pakistan’s general elections held on 8 February 2024.

As a friend of Pakistan, Australia has consistently called for a free, fair, inclusive and credible election process – in line with Pakistan’s Constitution and its international obligations.

We express our condolences for the loss of life incurred by terrorist attacks in the lead-up to and during elections. Australia welcomes the increase in the number of women registered to vote and the fact that millions of Pakistanis chose to vote.

It is regrettable, however, that the Pakistani people were restricted in their choice, since not all political parties were allowed to contest these elections.

Australia supports a democratic, stable and prosperous Pakistan which upholds its commitments to democratic principles including human rights, media freedoms, freedom of expression, and freedom of association.

As a long-standing partner we look forward to working with Pakistan towards a shared vision of an open, stable, prosperous and inclusive region. DNA

Says PTI emerged largest party as people roared their approval for Khan to be next premier: Raoof 

Warns any effort to derail decision will have deadly consequences

Vows all legal, constitutional rights to be used to deal with polls tampering bids

Says it would be a herculean task to buy consciousness of PTI ideological candidates

DNA

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan announced that PTI has been emerged as a single largest political force in the center as well as in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab, as people have not just spoken but they have roared their approval for PTI Chairman-for-life Imran Khan to be Pakistan’s next prime minister.

Addressing a press conference regarding the results of general elections 2024 here on Friday, PTI Central Information Secretary has said that credit goes to the public for a massive and unprecedented turnout to vote for PTI despite all adversarial circumstances, clearly reflecting their resilience, courage and passion.

Raoof Hasan warned that any effort to derail the decision of the people, as is being feared, will have deadly consequences and the power-wielders must learn to respect people’s choice.

He recalled that PTI had been facing worst reign of terror and fascism for the last two years after toppling of Imran Khan-led government through a regime change conspiracy, as political space was constantly shrinking for us as neither we were allowed to hold a corner meeting what to talk of a public gathering.

PTI Central Information Secretary highlighted that the police raided the homes of PTI’s leaders and tortured workers and leaders whenever they tried to hold even a corner meeting, as all brutal and coercive tactics were used to force them to quit the party.

He lamented that when the results started pouring in last night and the trend clearly showed that PTI was taking a clear lead in the center, KP and Punjab, the polls manipulators first slowdown the process of declarations of results and subsequently halted the process altogether to tamper with the results.

Raoof Hasan pointed out that though the process of declaring polls results were going on a snail pace, PTI candidates were clearly winning with huge margin at several constituencies including Islamabad at night. However, he added that ironically, their clear victory were converted into defeat in the morning because political engineering were going on behind the scene. 

Lashing out at the ECP, PTI Central Information Secretary said that the role of the electoral watchdog always remained a very questionable, as every time its system collapsed suddenly at the eleventh hour to tamper with the polls results and it only restarted after completion of the engineering process.

He made it clear that PTI was emerging as a lead political force in the center, KP and Punjab but efforts were afoot to manipulate the results in the center and Punjab to establish governments of their choice.

However, Raoof Hasan vowed that PTI would exercise all legal and constitutional rights to frustrate all bids to tamper with the elections results.

PTI Central Information Secretary highly appreciated the party workers and people for turning the table over the political opponents, which, he added, was a clear proof of the historic power exercised by their beloved leader despite being in incarceration, which is unprecedented in the political history.

He further stated that PTI Founding Chairman would never strike a deal with the powers that be until establishing ascendency of democracy and its acceptance in true sense, adding that PTI would use legal and constitutional means to block the undue inference of non-political forces in political affairs.

However, Raoof Hasan stressed the need that time was ripe to let the democracy flourish in the country and allowed the party enjoying a genuine public mandate to constitute government with full authority. He suggested that the powers-wielders should shun the past practice of stealing public mandate to establish a weak government because it would be neither sustainable nor capable to steer the country out of the prevailing quagmire. 

To a question, he reiterated that PTI wanted formation of an independent judicial commission on May 9 incidents so as to identify and punish the actual culprits.

Raoof Hasan also demanded that an empowered commission should be constituted to probe February 9 polls fraud in order expose the elements involved in polls tempering so as to hold them accountable.

Answering another question, PTI Central Information Secretary stated that PTI did not believe in avenge, as there was a special chapter in PTI manifesto of “wounds healing”, thus we will leave no stone unturned to heal the wounds of the country inflicted on it during the past 75 years.

Raoof Hasan went on to say that undoubtedly, Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif would make all-out efforts and become active again to buy the consciousness of PTI elected candidates. However, he vowed that PTI was purified and transferred drastically during the last two years; hence it would be a hard nut to crack to buy the consciousness of PTI ideological candidates this time around.

He vowed that PTI would exercise all constitutional and legal rights to protect and safeguard its reserved seats. Raoof Hasan said that Nawaz Sharif, who was all-set to deliver his victory speech like he did in 2013, walked out of the meeting last night in great anger after seeing his and his party humiliating drubbing.

To another question, he replied that PTI has already started consultation process regarding future course of actions but physically meeting did not possible since most of the elected candidates are either in jails or underground.

Jenangir Tareen contested from NA-149 and NA-155 Lodhran-2 but was unable to clinch victory as per unofficial results

Bureau Report

LAHORE (DNA) – Jahangir Tareen, the chairman of Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), faced defeat in both constituencies of the National Assembly in the Feb 8 polls.

Tareen contested from NA-149 and NA-155 Lodhran-2 but was unable to clinch victory as per unofficial results.

The results from 369 polling stations in Lodhran revealed that PML-N candidate Sadiqque Khan Baloch emerged victorious in NA-155 with 117,671 votes, while Tareen garnered only 71,128 votes.

Similarly, Tareen suffered defeat in NA-149 Multan where he secured 50,166 votes. PTI-backed independent candidate Malik Amir Dogar triumphed in NA-149 with 143,613 votes.

Rizwan Hans, the PPP candidate, secured the third position in NA-149 with 14,625 votes, according to unofficial results.

Jahangir Tareen’s defeat in both constituencies marks a significant setback for his party and raises questions about his future political endeavours.

KSE-100 shares index falls below 62,000 mark by losing 2,145.53 points or 3.34%

Nazir Siyal/DNA

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) opened the day on a negative note as the benchmark KSE-100 index plunged over 2,000 points on Friday as uncertainty surrounded election 2024 results.

The KSE-100 shares index, the benchmark of the country’s capital market, fell below the 62,000 mark by losing 2,145.53 points or 3.34% during the intraday trading.

Capital market expert Muhammad Sohail said that the index fell by 3% due to the “unexpected” results of the elections.

The stocks, a day before the general elections in Pakistan, closed on a higher note, boosted by a pre-election rally and hopes of an upgrade in the country’s credit rating, but trading volumes remained thin as investors stayed cautious.

The PSX gained 344.85 points or 0.54% to close at 64,143.87 points on Wednesday.

The highest index of the day remained at 64,196.62 points while the lowest level was recorded at 63,927.29 points.

S&P Global Ratings is expected to review Pakistan’s sovereign rating post-election and it was reported that it could raise it to ‘B’ if the new government shows commitment to fiscal reforms and an International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.

ISLAMABAD, FEB 9: (DNA) – Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Latif Khosa, Asad Qaisar, Kh. Asif, Bilawal Bhutto.

ISLAMABAD, FEB 9: (DNA) – Rana Sanaullah, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Barjis Tahir, Amir Muqam, Javed Latif etc. While PPP big wig from Lalamusa Qamar Zaman Kaira also lost in the elections 2024.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 9 (APP/DNA): Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi on Friday, felicitating nation over the peaceful and orderly conduct of general elections, said the caretaker government had fulfilled the solemn pledge of holding elections in line with time-frame, given by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Addressing a press conference along with Caretaker Interior Minister Dr Gohar Ijaz, he said despite speculations and multiple challenges,”we have consistently stood by our stand regarding the conduct of elections”.

Replying to a question, he said there was no shutdown of Internet on election day and added the fixed broadband was functioning and social media platforms were fully used by the subscribers.

He pointed out Internet suspension was not specific to Pakistan since many countries opted for the shutdown of Internet service, simply due to security reasons.

Sharing data, he said that in 2022, the Internet was shut down 187 times in 35 countries of the world and a neighbouring country, with purported democratic credentials, closed Internet service for 84 times.

He said Pakistan had been fighting the longest war against the scourge of terrorism with over hundred thousand martyrdoms.

He said on election day, 16 persons lost their lives in 61 incidents of violence and on the previous day, 28 persons were martyred in two incidents of terrorism.

Solangi said since January 15 this year, there were 47 incidents of terrorism including seven improvised explosive device  blasts and 26 grenade attacks.

Answering a question, the minister said the temporary shutdown of mobile phone service was imperative for protection of people’s lives.

On Thursday, the head of the Commonwealth Observer Group pointed out that when there were no mobile phones and Internet service, even then democracy was in vogue and elections were conducted around the world.

The minister said that ECP SMS service 8300 had been functional since January 29 and most of the voters must have got the required information in advance.

He acknowledged that people had faced some difficulties, but protecting citizens’ lives was the main task and obligation of the security agencies and the Ministry of Interior.

 “It was more important for us to save people’s lives and mobile phone service shut-down was done due to security threats,” Murtaza Solangi remarked.

To a question, he said a large number of independent candidates were elected which was the indication of the fairness of the electoral process.

Principal Information Officer Dr Tariq Mehmood Khan was also present on the occasion.

ISLAMABAD, FEB 9: All of Pakistan has its eyes on only one thing: the election 2024 result board where arch rivals PML-N and PTI with its independent candidates are battling it out, with PPP a close third (as of 4pm, Feb 9).

While clarity has to emerge on how the possibly historic government will be formed, Dawn.com has rounded up some of the key players and how they’ve fared in the elections where predictions are in a stand-off with surprises.

Maryam Nawaz wins NA-119, Lahore

PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz won her first-ever National Assembly seat with 83,855 votes, while PTI-backed Shehzad Farooq came in second with 68,376 votes.

Elder Sharif in loss, Shehbaz makes gains

Maryam’s uncle, former prime minister and PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif, wasn’t far behind; he easily won the NA-123 seat from Lahore with 63,953 votes, while PTI-backed Afzal Azeem Pahat was the runner-up with 48,486 votes.

Shehbaz also won the PP-158 seat in Lahore with 38,642 votes with PTI-backed Yousuf Ali as the runner-up with 23,847 votes.

His elder brother Nawaz Sharif, who has been famously vying for a fourth term as prime minister, lost Mansehra’s NA-15. He managed 80,382 votes while PTI-backed Shahzada Mohammad Gustasif Khan claimed victory with 105,249 votes.

Hamza Shehbaz wins NA-118, Lahore

Like father like son, PML-N’s Hamza Shehbaz added to the Sharif family’s wins in Lahore by edging out PTI-backed Aliya Hamza Malik with 105,960 votes to her 100,803 votes.

Gohar Ali Khan wins NA-10, Buner

PTI leader, and also currently the fact of the party with its founder behind bars, Gohar Ali Khan cruised to victory in his hometown Buner with 110,023 votes. ANP’s Abdul Rauf came second with 30,302 votes.

Asad Qaiser wins NA-19, Swabi

Asad Qaiser, former National Assembly speaker and another prominent face from PTI, won with 115,635 votes, while JUI-F’s Fazal Ali came second with 45,567 votes.

Omar Ayub Khan wins NA-18, Haripur

Omar Ayub Khan clinched his NA seat with 192,984 votes while PML-N’s Babar Nawaz Khan came in second with 112,389 votes.

Noor Alam Khan wins NA-28, Peshawar I

Just weeks after joining JUI-F, former PTI leader Noor Alam Khan had a major win in NA-28 Peshawar I with 138,389 votes. PTI-backed Sajid Nawaz Khan came in second with 65,119 votes.

Fazlur Rehman loses NA-44, DI Khan

PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur thrashed the JUI-F chief with 93,443 votes to 59,922 votes.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari wins NA-196, Qamber Shahdkot

PPP maintained its stronghold in Sindh as party leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari won with a landslide 85,370 votes. Nasir Mehmood from JUI-P came in second with 34,449 votes.

Asif Ali Zardari wins NA-207, Shaheed Benazirabad

As expected, former president Asif Ali Zardari had a landslide win in Shaheed Benazirabad with 146,989 votes, while Sardar Sher Muhammad Rind Baloch, a PTI-backed independent candidate, was the runner-up with 51,916 votes.

Pervez Khattak loses NA-33, Nowshera

PTI-Parliamentarians founder Pervez Khattak (ex-PTI member who served as the party’s KP chief minister earlier) lost Nowshera’s NA-33 seat by a massive 66,000-vote margin to Syed Shah Ahad Ali Shah, a PTI-backed independent candidate. According to the ECP’s provisional results, Shah bagged 93,429 votes while the former KP chief won 26,574 votes.

Aimal Wali Khan loses NA-25, Charsadda II

ANP leader Aimal Wali Khan took a major loss in NA-25 Charsadda II with 67,876 votes while PTI-backed Fazal Muhammad Khan took the win with 100,713 votes.

Akhtar Mengal wins NA-261 from Balochistan (Surab-Kalat-Mastung)

Former Chief Minister of Balochistan won his seat with 3,404 votes; PPP’s Sardar Sanaullah Zehri came in second with 2,871 votes.

Abdul Hakeem Baloch wins NA-231, Karachi

A close battle in NA-231 (Malir III) saw PPP’s Abdul Hakeem Baloch edge win by a slim margin against PTI-backed Khalid Mahmood Ali, with 43,634 votes to 43,245.