ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will hold delayed elections in January next year, the election commission announced Thursday, as the country grapples with overlapping political, economic and security crises.
A caretaker government has been ruling Pakistan since parliament was dissolved on August 9, days after the country’s most popular politician, former prime minister Imran Khan, was imprisoned for graft and barred from contesting elections.
Polls were supposed to have taken place within 90 days, but the election commission said it needed more time to redraw constituencies following the latest population census.
“The final list of constituencies will be published on November 30. After that, the elections will be held in the last week of January 2024, after a 54-day election program,” the commission said in a statement.
One political analyst suggested the date may not be set in stone.
“The announcement of a date is a positive and significant sign, however Pakistani politics is so unstable that one can’t predict what will happen after three months,” Hasan Askari Rizvi told AFP.
“But all the sufferings of the common people due to inflation and price hikes will have a direct bearing — provided all parties are allowed to campaign and contest elections,” he added.
Earlier this month, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said it was concerned about the scope for institutions to manipulate the electoral process.
“The delimitation of constituencies must also be completed quickly and efficiently and under no circumstances used as an excuse to delay the elections any further,” it said in a statement.
“Apart from ensuring that free, fair and credible elections take place, the test of the current caretaker government is to see not only whether it will protect and respect people’s right to protest peacefully, but also whether it will respond to the issues that ordinary citizens are mobilizing around.”
Khan’s ouster as prime minister in April last year sparked months of political drama, with a defiant campaign against the powerful military culminating in a major crackdown on his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.
The country is struggling through a biting economic downturn, with business leaders crying out for authorities to bring political stability to the cash-strapped nation which has seen a record devaluation of the rupee and soaring inflation.
Pakistan has also witnessed a dramatic spike in militant attacks, mainly in its border regions with Afghanistan, after the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
Analysts say Islamist fighters have been emboldened by the neighboring insurgency’s success.
The first half of 2023 saw a nearly 80 percent spike in attacks compared to last year, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.
Pakistan national election to be held end January 2024
https://arab.news/4uyq4
Pakistan national election to be held end January 2024
- Polls were due in November but were delayed by due to fresh marking of constituencies
- Election regulator says final list of new constituencies will be published by November 30
A look at recent deadly attacks in Pakistan as it battles rising militancy
- Government facing insurgencies in northwest and growing separatist insurgency in southwest
- Pakistan is also currently at loggerheads with both its neighbors India and Afghanistan
Following are some recent deadly attacks in Pakistan, where the government is facing insurgencies on two fronts — militant attacks in the northwest and a growing separatist insurgency in the south.
MAY 21, 2025
At least three children were among five people killed when a suicide bomber targeted an army school bus in the restive Pakistani southwestern province of Balochistan, in an attack the military blamed on Indian proxies.
The Indian government did not respond to a request for comment on the accusation.
MARCH 11, 2025
A total of 31 people, including soldiers, staff, and civilians, were killed by militants who hijacked a train as it traveled through a remote mountain pass in Balochistan. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the biggest of several ethnic armed groups fighting the government, claimed responsibility.
MARCH 4, 2025
Suicide bombers drove two vehicles packed with explosives into a military base in the town of Bannu in the northwest, killing 18 people, including six children.
No group claimed responsibility for the violence.
NOVEMBER 1, 2024
A blast targeting a police van in Mastung town in Balochistan killed seven people, including five school students, and injured 23 others.
No group claimed responsibility.
AUGUST 26, 2024
At least 38 civilians and 14 soldiers were killed as separatist militants attacked police stations, railway lines and highways in Balochistan, and security forces launched retaliatory operations.
The BLA claimed responsibility for the attacks, the most widespread in the country in years.
DECEMBER 12, 2023
At least 57 people, including seven children, died as suicide bombings ripped through two mosques in Mastung while believers marked the birthday of the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh).
No group claimed responsibility.
JULY 31, 2023
A suicide bombing targeting a hard-line religious group’s political rally in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province’s Bajaur region killed 56 people. The Daesh militant group claimed responsibility for the blast, which took place in northwestern Pakistan.
Pakistan approves authority to regulate, accelerate growth of virtual assets economy
- Pakistan set up national crypto council in March to create legal framework for cryptocurrency trading, luring foreign investment
- Last month, government introduced first policy framework to set rules for how digital money, service providers should operate in Pakistan
KARACHI: The government has approved setting up the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA) to regulate blockchain-based financial infrastructure, the finance ministry said on Wednesday, as the country moves to adopt a strategy to regulate and accelerate the growth of its virtual assets economy.
Pakistan set up a national crypto council (PCC) in March to create a legal framework for cryptocurrency trading in a bid to lure international investment. One of the world’s most powerful people in crypto, co-founder and former CEO of Binance Changpeng Zhao, was subsequently appointed as a strategic adviser to the PCC.
Cryptocurrencies including bitcoin are not officially regulated in Pakistan but are also not illegal or banned. As of Jan. 16, 2021, the State Bank of Pakistan has not authorized any individuals or organizations to carry out the sale, purchase, exchange, and investment of virtual currencies, coins, and tokens.
Last month, Pakistan introduced its first-ever policy framework, created by a special government group under the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Terrorism Financing (CTF) authority, to set rules for how digital money like cryptocurrencies and the companies that deal in it should operate in Pakistan. The policy has been formulated to align with compliance and financial integrity guidelines of the global Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
“The aim is to ensure FATF-compliant innovation, economic inclusion, and responsible adoption of digital assets,” the finance ministry said, announcing the approval of the Pakistan Digital Assets Authority.
Pakistan is experiencing a surge in the adoption of digital assets, driven by a growing tech-savvy population and increasing government support for blockchain technology.
“Pakistan must regulate not just to catch up but to lead. With the PDAA, we are creating a future-ready framework that protects consumers, invites global investment, and puts Pakistan at the forefront of financial innovation,” the finance ministry statement said, quoting finance minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Crypto Council.
The PDAA will serve as a specialized regulatory body with a mandate to oversee licensing, compliance, and innovation within the digital asset ecosystem. It will regulate exchanges, custodians, wallets, tokenized platforms, stablecoins, and DeFi applications, all under a single framework.
“This strategic decision aligns Pakistan with other forward-thinking economies such as the UAE, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong, all of which have established digital asset regulators to foster innovation while ensuring compliance with global financial norms,” the finance ministry said.
The PDAA is expected to regulate an over $25 billion informal crypto market, enable tokenization of national assets and government debt, provide legal clarity to global and local investors, facilitate monetization of Pakistan’s surplus electricity through regulated bitcoin mining and empower young people and startups to build blockchain-based solutions at scale.
“This is not just about crypto,” Bin Saqib, CEO of Pakistan Crypto Council, said.
“It’s about rewriting our financial future, expanding access, and creating new export channels through tokenization, digital finance, and Web3 innovation.”
According to Statista, a German online platform that specializes in data gathering and visualization, the projected revenue in the digital assets market in Pakistan is estimated to reach $1.6 billion by 2025 while the number of users is expected to reach 27.10 million users.
Pakistan drop stars Shaheen, Azam and Rizwan for Bangladesh T20s
- Batsmen Azam and Rizwan were omitted for the second consecutive T20 series after being criticized for slow scoring
- Salman Ali Agha will captain Pakistan as they look to next year’s Twenty20 World Cup hosted by India and Sri Lanka
KARACHI: Pakistan dropped stars Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan on Wednesday as they named a new-look squad for three home Twenty20 internationals against Bangladesh.
Former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson will take charge for the first time after being appointed last week, replacing Aaqib Javed.
Salman Ali Agha will captain Pakistan as they look toward next year’s Twenty20 World Cup, to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Fast bowler Shaheen had played in Pakistan’s last T20 series in New Zealand in March, but batsmen Azam and Rizwan were omitted for the second consecutive T20 series after being criticized for slow scoring.
“The squad has been selected based on players’ performances in the ongoing Pakistan Super League, which concludes on May 25,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement.
Shaheen has taken 12 wickets for Lahore Qalandars in 10 PSL matches at an economy rate of 8.20.
Opener Sahibzada Farhan earned a recall after topping the PSL batting charts with 394 runs.
Batsmen Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman return after missing the New Zealand tour with injuries.
Fast bowler Hasan Ali is back after being sidelined with multiple injuries since May last year.
The PCB said that the series match schedule, which has been affected by a 10-day delay to the PSL caused by the deadly India-Pakistan conflict, will be announced soon with all three matches to be held in Lahore.
Pakistan squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Wasim, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub.
Pakistani delegation prepares to visit world capitals in diplomatic push following India standoff
- Head of delegation Bilawal Bhutto Zardari says contentious issues like disputed Kashmir, terrorism, water should be resolved
- Pakistan Peoples Party chairman laments India “weaponizing” water, calls it “both unfortunate and extremely dangerous”
ISLAMABAD: A high-level delegation set up by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to present Pakistan’s position and advocate for the country in world capitals following a recent military conflict with India is receiving briefings from top foreign office officials and would carry a “message of truth and peace,” the head of the team said on Wednesday.
Sharif announced the diplomatic group last week and said it would be headed by Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who is a former foreign minister.
Speaking to media on Wednesday, Bhutto Zardari said his team had received a briefing from the ministry of foreign affairs on the recent standoff with India and a ceasefire brokered by the US, as well as on contention issues like the Kashmir dispute, terrorism, and India’s unilateral move to suspend the Indus Water Treaty.
“We are very thankful to the Foreign Secretary and the entire team here for briefing us. We hope that when we go forward with Pakistan’s message, a message of truth and peace, people will be willing to listen,” Bhutto Zardari said.
“We have always aimed to ensure that not only between India and Pakistan, but also throughout the entire region, flashpoints, whether it is the long-standing issue of Kashmir or terrorism, are addressed.”
As a victim of terrorism itself, Pakistan was “committed to seeing it dealt with and eliminated,” Bhutto Zardari said.
Tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and India are high after they struck a ceasefire on May 10 following the most intense military confrontation in decades.
Both countries accuse the other of supporting militancy on each other’s soil — a charge both capitals deny.
The latest military escalation, in which the two countries traded missile, drones and artillery fire, was sparked after India accused Pakistan of supporting militants who attacked dozens of tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, killing 26. Islamabad denies involvement.
“We have just witnessed how, after a terrorist incident, two nuclear countries were on the warpath. This makes it even more important for us to address the issue of terrorism,” Bhutto Zardari said.
“We should not only talk about it but also work toward finding a solution. Our goal should be to rid this region of terrorism. And if, God forbid, such a problem arises in the future, there should never be a situation where two nuclear-armed countries are pushed toward war.”
After the tourist attack, Delhi “put in abeyance” its participation in the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, which governs usage of the Indus river system. The accord has not been revived despite the rivals agreeing on a ceasefire last week following the conflict.
Islamabad said after India suspended the treaty that it considered “any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan” to be an “act of war.”
About 80 percent of Pakistani farms depend on the Indus system, as do nearly all hydropower projects serving the country of some 250 million.
Bhutto Zardari lamented that India was “weaponizing” water, calling it “both unfortunate and extremely dangerous.”
“The people of Pakistan want peace, and I believe the majority of Indians also desire peace between our two nations. But that peace will not be possible unless we resolve the issues of Kashmir, terrorism, and the water dispute that India has initiated,” he said.
“At this moment, Pakistan is clearly saying that we want peace, we want dialogue, while India lags behind on this path.”
Four children among six killed in school bus attack in Pakistan’s southwest
- Around 40 students were on bus headed to army-run school, administrator of Khuzdar where attack took place says
- Pakistan military blames assault on “Indian terror proxies,” New Delhi has not yet commented on the accusations
KARACHI: The chief minister of Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province said on Wednesday six people, including four children, were killed in a militant attack on a school bus, with a government official saying the bus had been en route to an army-run school.
The attack took place in Balochistan’s Khuzdar district. The bus was on its way to drop students off at a military school in the area, Yasir Iqbal, the administrator of Khuzdar district, told media.
“These coward terrorists attacked them [school bus] with a vehicle-borne IED and in that attack, 46 children were traveling on that bus, of which four children have been martyred and the rest are injured,” Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti told media.
“Firstly, we condemn this incident, we strongly condemn it. Children are innocent and they have nothing to do with wars.”
The Pakistan military blamed “Indian terror proxies” for being behind the attack.
Tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and India are high after they struck a ceasefire on May 10 following their most intense military confrontation in decades.
Both countries accuse the other of supporting militancy on each other’s soil — a charge both capitals deny.
The latest military escalation, in which the two countries traded missiles, drones and artillery fire, was sparked after India accused Pakistan of supporting militants who attacked dozens of tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, killing 26. Islamabad denies involvement.
“After having miserably failed in the battlefield, through these most heinous and cowardly such like acts [attacking school bus], Indian proxies have been unleashed to spread terror and unrest in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhawa,” the army said in a statement, referring to two Pakistani provinces.
New Delhi has not yet commented on the accusations.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but suspicion is likely to fall on separatist groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army, which in March blew up a railway track and took passengers from a train hostage, killing 31.
Southwestern Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province by area, but smallest by population and most impoverished. The region of some 15 million people is home to key mining projects and a deep seaport that China is building but has been roiled by a decades-old insurgency.
“Targeting innocent children is a barbaric act, those responsible deserve no leniency,” Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement, describing the attack as a “vile conspiracy to destabilize the country.”
Wednesday’s attack was reminiscent of one of the deadliest militant attacks in Pakistan’s history when over 130 children were killed in a military school in the northern city of Peshawar in 2014. That attack was claimed by the Pakistani Taliban group.
– With inputs from Reuters
