Electoral process kicks off in Pakistan as polls regulator begins receiving nomination forms

Candidates for the seats reserved for women of a provincial assembly receive their nomination papers for the upcoming general election at the election commission office in Lahore on December 20, 2023. (AFP)
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Updated 20 December 2023
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Electoral process kicks off in Pakistan as polls regulator begins receiving nomination forms

  • Over 128.5 million voters will decide fate of 175 political parties in general elections, ECP data shows
  • 69,263,704 male and 59,322,056 female voters registered to vote in general elections scheduled for Feb. 8

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday began the process of receiving nomination papers from potential candidates, a day after Returning Officers issued a public notice for nominations for national and provincial assembly seats, formally kicking off the electoral process for general elections due on Feb. 8.

Over 128.5 million registered voters in Pakistan will decide the fate of 175 political and religious parties in the 2024 election, latest data from the Election Commission of Pakistan shows, with candidates fighting for 266 National Assembly (NA) seats and 593 Provincial Assembly (PA) seats.

“Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP’s) data has revealed that total registered voters in Pakistan are 128,585,760 including 69,263,704 male and 59,322,056 female, who would decide the fate of about 175 political and religious parties,” state-run APP news agency said in a wide-ranging report on the electoral schedule and process.

ELECTION SCHEDULE

According to the ECP’s election schedule for 2024, candidates can file nomination papers with respective returning officers between Dec. 20-22 while the names of all nominated candidates will be published on Dec. 23.

Returning officers will scrutinize nomination papers between Dec. 24-30, while the last date for filing of appeals against the decision of the returning officers rejecting or accepting nomination papers would be completed on Jan. 3. The last date for deciding on appeals by an appellate tribunal will be Jan 10.


The ECP will publish the revised list of the candidates on Jan. 11 while the last date for withdrawal of candidature and publication of a revised list of candidates is Jan. 12. The polling body will allot election symbols to contesting candidates on Jan. 13 and polling will take place on Feb. 8.


“This election program would also apply to the seats reserved for women and non-Muslims in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochsitan provinces,” APP said.

The last date to file a separate priority list for seats reserved for women and non-Muslims before ROs is Dec. 22.

FEES

The fee to obtain one nomination form has been fixed as Rs10, and each candidate can submit a maximum of five nomination papers with different proposers and seconders. The non-refundable fee for submission of a nomination paper for a national assembly seat is Rs30,000 while it is Rs 20,000 for a provincial assembly seat.

The fee for a nomination paper can either be submitted directly to the RO or through a bank draft in the RO’s name to any National Bank of Pakistan’s branch, with the receipt attached with the nomination form.

Nomination papers can be obtained from respective returning officers between 8:30am to 4:30pm from Dec. 20-22. Nomination papers need to be submitted with attested copies of computerized national identity cards of the candidates and their proposers and seconders, vote certificates issued by the concerned office of the district election commissioner, candidates’ income tax returns of the last three years and passports.

ELIGIBILITY

The ECP has also issued a criterion for eligibility of contesting candidates for national and provincial assembly seats. A candidate should be a citizen of Pakistan who is at least 25 years old at the final date of filing of nomination papers . The candidate should be a registered voter in any part of Pakistan for the national assembly and of the province in which he or she is contesting for a provincial assembly seat.

It is mandatory for candidates of women’s reserved seats of the national assembly to be registered voters of that province and fulfill eligibility criteria mentioned in Articles 62-63 of the constitution, which deal with the qualifications and disqualifications of members of parliament.

The proposers and seconders of candidates contesting on general seats should be voters of the relevant constituency while proposers and seconders of national and provincial assembly women and non-Muslim seats should be voters of that province.

The proposers and seconders of candidates for national assembly seats of non-Muslims should be registered voters in any part of the country. The priority list issued by political parties for reserved seats needs to be attached with the nomination papers of the candidate while a special account for election expenses is required to be opened by the candidates in any scheduled bank, or details and bank statements provided of an already existing account.


13 more killed in Pakistan sectarian fighting

Updated 4 sec ago
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13 more killed in Pakistan sectarian fighting

  • Pakistan is a Sunni-majority country, but Kurram district has a large Shiite population and the communities have clashed for decades
  • Fresh fighting broke out last Thursday when two separate convoys of Shiite Muslims traveling under police escort were ambushed

PESHAWAR: Sectarian feuding in northwest Pakistan killed 13 more people, a local government official said Saturday, as warring Sunnis and Shiites defied repeated ceasefire orders in recent conflict claiming 124 lives.
Pakistan is a Sunni-majority country, but Kurram district — in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near the border with Afghanistan — has a large Shiite population and the communities have clashed for decades.
Fresh fighting broke out last Thursday when two separate convoys of Shiite Muslims traveling under police escort were ambushed, killing more than 40.
Since then, 10 days of fighting with light and heavy weapons has brought the region to a standstill, with major roads closed and mobile phone services cut as the death toll surged.
A Kurram local government official put the death toll at 124 on Saturday after 13 more people were killed in the past two days.
Two were Sunni and 11 Shiite, he said, whilst more than 50 people have been wounded in fresh fighting which continued Saturday morning.
“There is a severe lack of trust between the two sides, and neither tribe is willing to comply with government orders to cease hostilities,” he told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“Police report that many people want to flee the area due to the violence, but the deteriorating security situation makes it impossible,” he added.
A seven-day ceasefire deal was announced by the provincial government last weekend but failed to hold. Another 10-day truce was brokered Wednesday but it also failed to stymie the fighting.
A senior security official in the provincial capital of Peshawar, also speaking anonymously, confirmed the total death toll of 124.
“There is a fear of more fatalities,” he said. “None of the provincial government’s initiated measures have been fully implemented to restore peace.”
Police have regularly struggled to control violence in Kurram, which was part of the semi-autonomous Federally Administered Tribal Areas until it was merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said 79 people had been killed in the region between July and October in sectarian clashes.
The feuding is generally rekindled by disputes over land in the rugged mountainous region, and fueled by underlying tensions between the communities adhering to different sects of Islam.


Pakistan to face Zimbabwe in first T20I on Sunday

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Pakistan to face Zimbabwe in first T20I on Sunday

  • The first T20 between Pakistan and Zimbabwe will start at 4pm Pakistan standard time
  • Pakistan this week defeated Zimbabwe 2-1 in their three-match one-day international series

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will face Zimbabwe in the first of their three-match Twenty-20 International (T20I) series in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on Sunday.
The first T20 between Pakistan and Zimbabwe will start at 4pm Pakistan standard time. Pakistan this week defeated Zimbabwe 2-1 in their three-match one-day international series.
“A 99-run win in the third ODI to wrap up a series victory,” the Pakistan Cricket Board remarked as Kamran Ghulam struck his maiden one-day international century to steer Pakistan to win.
“Onto the T20I action.”
Pakistan and Zimbabwe will play the second and third T20 matches on Dec. 3 and 5 at the same venue in Bulawayo.
The tourists then head to South Africa for an eight-match all-formats tour, including two Tests.


Lifting of EU safety agency ban on PIA flights will make air travel easier for Pakistanis — PM

Updated 30 November 2024
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Lifting of EU safety agency ban on PIA flights will make air travel easier for Pakistanis — PM

  • European Aviation Safety Agency suspended PIA’s authorization in June 2020 over aviation safety concerns
  • The suspension came days after Pakistan launched an investigation into the validity of pilots’ licenses

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has welcomed the decision of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to lift a ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to the bloc, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif saying it would make air travel easier for Pakistanis living in Europe.
EASA suspended PIA’s authorization to operate in the EU in June 2020 over concerns about the ability of Pakistani authorities and its Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) to ensure compliance with international aviation standards.
The suspension came days after Pakistan launched an investigation into the validity of pilots’ licenses issued in the country following a PIA plane crash that killed 97 people.
In his statement on Friday, PM Sharif said the lifting of EASA’s ban would strengthen the national flag carrier’s reputation and bring financial benefits to the airline, the state-run Radio Pakistani broadcaster reported.
“The lifting of the ban reflects the successful policies of Pakistan and air travel will become easier for Pakistanis living in Europe,” Sharif was quoted as saying by the broadcaster.
The ban was costing PIA nearly 40 billion Pakistani rupees ($144 million) in revenue annually, according to government records presented in parliament.
PIA and the government had been pressing EASA to lift the ban even provisionally. The government’s attempt to privatize the airline fell flat when it received only a single offer this year, that too well below its asking price.
In a statement, the PIA also vowed to abide by the EASA regulations as it welcomed the lifting of the ban.
“The PIA administration will remain fully compliant with EASA and its rules and regulations,” the airline said.
 


‘Incredible experience’: Pakistani artisans urge stronger cultural ties at Saudi exhibition

Updated 30 November 2024
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‘Incredible experience’: Pakistani artisans urge stronger cultural ties at Saudi exhibition

  • The handicrafts week in Riyadh featured over 500 artisans who displayed a blend of traditions and skills
  • Pakistani participants say they were delighted to see Saudi women entrepreneurs in huge numbers

KARACHI: Pakistani artisans participating in Saudi Arabia’s International Handicrafts Week, Banan, on Friday called for deepening cultural ties between the two nations, emphasizing the role of art and crafts in fostering mutual understanding.
The exhibition, held in Riyadh from Nov. 23 to Nov. 29, featured over 500 artisans from 25 countries, showcasing a vibrant blend of traditions and skills.
The event, organized by the Heritage Commission of the Saudi Ministry of Culture, highlighted the role of crafts in promoting cross-cultural dialogue.
Several Pakistani artisans were facilitated by their embassy to participate in Banan and represent their country’s rich culture.
“It is important to explore the ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia through a cultural lens, which has started to happen,” Danish Jabbar Khan, CEO of Kaarvan Crafts Foundation and a participant at the event, told Arab News over the phone.
“The cultural exchange is the way forward for two countries to understand each other," he continued. "It’s simpler and long-lasting. People-to-people exchange is very important that such platforms allow.”
Khan’s foundation works with rural communities, particularly women, to preserve traditional crafts such as truck art, blue pottery and woodwork.

This handout photograph, shared by Pakistani artist Ejaz ul Allah Mughal on November 29, 2024, shows a general view of his stall featuring tuck art at the Pakistan pavilion during the Saudi International Handicrafts Week, Banan, in Riyadh. (Supplied/Ejaz ul Allah Mughal)

“The experience [of participating in the exhibition] was phenomenal,” he said. “The culture here is so open in terms of its scale, work, and inclusion. I am delighted to see Saudi women entrepreneurs in huge numbers.”
A highlight of the exhibition was truck artist Ejaz ul Allah Mughal, who created custom pieces for attendees.

This handout photograph, shared by Pakistani artist Ejaz ul Allah Mughal on November 29, 2024, shows his work, featuring portraits of King Salman of Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, at his stall featuring tuck art at the Pakistan pavilion during the Saudi International Handicrafts Week, Banan, in Riyadh. (Supplied/Ejaz ul Allah Mughal)

“I am happy that I represented Pakistan,” Mughal said, adding: “Though language was a barrier, art knows no boundaries. People here really appreciated my craft. Truck art is famous worldwide, so people know about it.”
Mariya Suhail, who uses a diverse range of Pakistan’s gemstones in jewelry, also took her craft to Banan. She set up Pakistan’s first gemstone cutting and processing facility in Lahore over a decade ago, though she later launched her own label, Orah Jewels.
Suhail's work blends Pakistan’s diverse gemstones into jewelry and home décor.

This handout photograph, shared by Pakistani artist Mariya Sohail on November 29, 2024, shows her stall at the Pakistan pavilion during the Saudi International Handicrafts Week, Banan, in Riyadh. (Supplied/Mariya Sohail)

“People here picked up gemstones from Pakistan and loved it," she told Arab News. "There is a lot of demand for Pakistani products here. People of Riyadh also have a very positive outlook towards Pakistan.”
She maintained that despite the language barrier, there was a lot of learning, networking and exposure.
“Cultural exchange is very important," she added. "I wish we can have more such events and opportunities to present this very beautiful image of Pakistan. It's been an incredible experience here.”

This handout photograph, shared by Pakistani artist Mariya Sohail on November 29, 2024, shows visiting children at her stall at the Pakistan pavilion during the Saudi International Handicrafts Week, Banan, in Riyadh. (Supplied/Mariya Sohail)

The Embassy of Pakistan in Riyadh also commended the artisans’ participation, calling the Pakistani pavilion a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and the unparalleled quality of its craftsmanship.
"From intricate handmade designs to traditional artistry passed down through generations, the showcased crafts highlighted the deep-rooted legacy of Pakistan's artisan community,” it said in a statement.


At least five killed in road crash in Pakistan’s Balochistan province

Updated 30 November 2024
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At least five killed in road crash in Pakistan’s Balochistan province

  • The crash occurred after driver of a speeding car lost control of it and hit a truck
  • Fatal road accidents are common in Pakistan where traffic rules are rarely followed

QUETTA: At least five people were killed after a speeding car hit a truck in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, an official said on Friday.
The vehicle carrying five people onboard was en route to Loralai from Quetta, when it crashed into the truck coming from the opposite direction in Sarki Jangal area, according to Loralai Deputy Commissioner Meeran Baloch.
The accident occurred after the driver of the speeding car lost control at a curve section of the highway.
“Five people traveling in the car, including principal of the Government Boys Degree College Loralai, were killed,” Baloch told Arab News.
“The bodies were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital Loralai, where four of them have been identified.”
Fatal road accidents are common in Pakistan where traffic rules are rarely followed and roads, particularly in rural and mountainous areas, are in poor condition.
Such accidents are frequent in Balochistan where single-carriage roads connect various cities, and even some highways lack modern safety features.
Late last month, at least 12 people were killed and more than a dozen others sustained injuries in three fatal road accidents in the southwestern Pakistani province.