Three killed, 12 injured in protest over alleged manipulation in vote counts in northwest Pakistan

Police personnel stand guard as supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and other parties protest outside the office of a Returning Officer in Quetta on February 9, 2024, against the alleged rigging in Pakistan's national election results. (AFP)
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Updated 09 February 2024
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Three killed, 12 injured in protest over alleged manipulation in vote counts in northwest Pakistan

  • Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters held protest over results of National Assembly seat in Shangla district
  • Aftermath of Thursday’s general elections marred with widespread allegations of rigging and manipulation

PESHAWAR/KARACHI/QUETTA: At least three people were killed and 12 others injured, police said, during a protest by supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party against the results of a National Assembly seat in Shangla district in northwestern Pakistan on Friday. 

Engineer Amir Muqam of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) party won over the PTI-backed candidate Saeed Farin for the National Assembly seat NA-11, against which PTI supporters organized a protest in Shangla on Friday, saying the results of the count had been altered. 

“The protesters got violent and pelted stones on the police as a result of which four police were injured,” a spokesperson at the local police station told Arab News, saying police opened retaliatory fire. “Three protesters were killed and 12 others were injured.”

Rescue 1122 spokesperson for Shangla district Rasool Khan said four injured people had been shifted to Khwaza Khela hospital in Swat, while four others were rushed to the district headquarters hospital in Shangla Alpuri.

The aftermath of Thursday’s general elections has been marred with widespread allegations of rigging and manipulation in counting votes, especially by PTI-backed candidates who allege there is a government and military-backed campaign to keep them from winning polls. Both deny the charge.

KARACHI

Voters and election officials in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, also complained about issues with the electoral exercise.

“The MQM-P [Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan party] attempted to insert ballot papers from outside at some polling stations and they were caught red-handed,” Naeem Ur Rehman, a top leader of the rival religious party, the Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI), told Arab News. 

Rehman said the JI was leading in most constituencies in the city while candidates backed by the PTI were runners-up when the results were tampered with.

“The MQM-P created chaos in the city and tried to influence the results,” Rehman said, adding that polling stations were seized by MQM-P supporters at gunpoint after polling concluded at 5pm.

By Friday evening, the MQM had bagged a total 15 seats in Karachi. It denies it was involved in rigging.

Qadir Khan Mandokhail, a candidate for the Pakistan People’s Party, the longtime ruling party in Sindh province, could be seen in a video breaking into a polling station with a crowd of supporters and angrily smashing a ballot box. 

A spokesperson for the provincial election commissioner said the regulator had taken notice of the incident and action would be taken against Mandokhail. It was unclear on Friday if, and what, action had been taken.

Another PPP leader Saeed Ghani alleged that Irfanullah Khan Marwat, a candidate of the opposing Grand Democratic Alliance, had snatched ballot papers from electoral staff in PS-105 constituency.

The MQM-P candidate in Karachi’s NA-241, Dr. Farooq Sattar, also accused the PPP and religious political party, the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), of rigging polls. 

“After the end of polling time, PPP and TLP thugs are continuously creating chaos at various polling stations and threatening MQM polling agents,” he said in a statement.

Both parties have denied the accusations. 

BALOCHISTAN

In Balochistan, the Election Commission had announced the results of only two National Assembly and 26 provincial assembly seats from the southwestern province by Friday evening, triggering protests and allegations of “mass riggings” by nationalist and mainstream political parties.

Hundreds of supporters from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI F), the Balochistan National Party Mengal (BNP M), Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf thronged to the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in the afternoon, demanding final polling results and accusing the election regulator of blatant rigging, which it denies. 

Malik Muhammad Faisal Dehwar, a PTI candidate from PB-44, told Arab News he had received results from 44 polling stations in his constituency without the signatures of the returning officer (RO) on the important Form-45 for official results. 

“Results from 32 polling stations were taken by security forces in front of voters, we had protested but they took away ballot boxes,” he said without specifying which security agency was involved. “We are helpless.”

Akhtar Hussain Langove, a Balochistan National Party Mengal candidate from PB-43, also accused the election commission of being involved in rigging.

“The government was responsible to deliver the ballot boxes to the DRO office, but the votes with the presiding officers were picked up by unknown persons which should be investigated.” 

Caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai request calmed and said losers should accept results. 

“Provincial government will take action against protesters disturbing law and order.,” he warned.

Syed Naimatullah, a JUI F supporter from PB-45 Sariab told Arab News, the party’s candidate Usman Pirkani was leading with 4,800 votes in the evening but in the morning another candidate won the seat. 

“In the dark of night, bogus votes have been cast which is an open rigging,” he said. 

Many voters and election candidates also accused the election regulator of “deliberately” delaying results, facilitating rigging. 

Arab News saw dozens of election staff, including women, sitting outside the deputy commissioner’s office in the provincial capital of Quetta on Thursday night after polling ended to deliver election results, but no one was available at the district returning officer’s (DRO) office to receive the results.

“I haven’t seen such elections in my entire life, wherein DROs and ROs [returning officers] vanished from their offices and were not present to receive the election material, hours after polling closed in Quetta,” Senator Kamran Murtaza told Arab News.

The ECP had not uploaded any results from Balochistan on its official website until early Friday morning.

“We have waited for hours outside the DRO office, but they didn’t share any result from a single polling station in NA-263 constituency in Quetta,” Mir Maqbool Lehri, a parliamentary candidate, told Arab News.

“We don’t know why returning officers are silent. This was not an election, but a process of selection.”

Sana Baloch, a former provincial lawmaker from the remote Kharan district, accused a presiding officer of removing ballot boxes from a polling station for two hours.

“The presiding officer accompanied by security forces took the ballot boxes some 60 kilometers away from the polling station without counting the ballots,” Baloch said on X. “After bringing back the boxes, he didn’t announce the result for hours, thus the ECP should stop counting and announce re-polling in the constituency.” 

He did not specify which security forces were involved in the alleged rigging, as army, paramilitary and police were all deployed on security duty during Feb. 8 elections. 

Baloch, from the Balochistan National Party Mengal (BNP M) who contested elections from PB-33 Kharan, said two bomb attacks had targeted polling stations in Kharan.


Islamabad rejects ‘unhealthy’ remarks by Indian politicians about Pakistan’s nuclear capability, Kashmir

Updated 7 sec ago
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Islamabad rejects ‘unhealthy’ remarks by Indian politicians about Pakistan’s nuclear capability, Kashmir

  • Pakistan has been key topic of Indian election speeches by PM Narendra Modi, top leaders of his ruling BJP party
  • Foreign Office urges Indian politicians to stop dragging Pakistan into their domestic politics for ‘electoral gains’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office on Tuesday rejected “baseless” and “unhealthy” remarks by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other members of his cabinet regarding Pakistan’s nuclear program, Kashmir dispute and other regional issues, which came during campaigning for ongoing elections in India.

Pakistan has been a key topic of speeches by Indian leaders during campaign rallies, with Modi and top leaders from his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) making strong statements about their South Asian neighbor.

At an election rally in Bihar this week, Modi indirectly referred to National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah’s remarks about Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities and said he would make Pakistan “wear bangles.”

Noting the “alarming” surge in anti-Pakistan rhetoric, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said it rejected the “irresponsible statements” by Indian leaders about the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, counter-terrorism efforts, bilateral relations and Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities.

“Regrettably, these statements reflect an unhealthy and entrenched obsession with Pakistan and reveal a deliberate intent to exploit hyper-nationalism for electoral gains. These also signify a desperate attempt to deflect attention from mounting domestic and international criticism,” Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, a Pakistani foreign office spokesperson, said in a statement.

“The bravado and jingoism exhibited by Indian leaders expose a reckless and extremist mindset. This mindset calls into question India’s capacity to be a responsible steward of its strategic capability. On the other hand, the purpose of Pakistan’s strategic capability is to safeguard its sovereignty and defend its territorial integrity.”

Baloch noted that Pakistan had clearly demonstrated its resolve to defend itself in the past and would not “hesitate to do so in the future should the Indian side choose to embark on a misadventure.”

About Indian Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s claim that Azad Kashmir was part of India, she said Jammu and Kashmir was an internationally-recognized disputed territory and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions clearly mandated a plebiscite in the territory for its final determination.

“No amount of inflated Indian statements can change this reality,” Baloch said. “India should, therefore, focus on implementing these resolutions instead of indulging in fantasies of grandeur.”

The Himalayan territory of Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from Britain in 1947, with both countries ruling part of the territory but claiming it in full.

The western portion of the larger Kashmir region is administered by Pakistan as a nominally self-governing entity, while India rules the southern portion as a union territory.

Baloch urged Indian politicians to stop dragging Pakistan into their domestic politics for “electoral gains” and to handle sensitive strategic matters with “utmost caution.”

“We call upon the international community to take note of Indian leadership’s belligerent rhetoric, which poses a grave threat to regional peace and stability,” she said.

“The vision of peace, progress, and prosperity in South Asia can only be realized through the peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes, including Jammu and Kashmir, and a shift from confrontation to cooperation.”


Pakistan PM to soon visit Azad Kashmir to review situation after violent protests

Updated 14 May 2024
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Pakistan PM to soon visit Azad Kashmir to review situation after violent protests

  • At least four people were killed in protests over subsidized wheat flour and electricity that began on May 11
  • The protests were called off on Tuesday after Pakistan approved $83 million subsidies for the disputed region

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced visiting Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in a few days to personally review the situation after days-long violent protests over subsidies, Pakistani state media reported on Tuesday.

At least three protesters and a police officer were killed and several others wounded in days of clashes between demonstrators demanding subsidies on wheat flour and electricity and law enforcement.

The protests were called off on Tuesday, a day after Pakistan announced $83 million subsidies and prompted the regional government to notify a reduction in prices of wheat flour and electricity.

On Tuesday, Sharif presided over a meeting of his cabinet to discuss the situation in Azad Kashmir, the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.

“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced to visit Azad Jammu and Kashmir in a few days to personally review the ground situation and promote the tendency of resolving issues at the dialogue table,” the report read.

“He said Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan as declared by the founder of Pakistan, and maintaining law and order there is the top priority.”

The Himalayan territory of Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from Britain in 1947, with both countries ruling part of the territory but claiming it in full.

The western portion of the larger Kashmir region is administered by Pakistan as a nominally self-governing entity, while India rules the southern portion as a union territory.

While the Indian portion has faced an ongoing insurgency for decades and multiple armed attempts by the state to quell it, the Pakistani side has remained relatively calm over the decades, though it is also highly militarized.

The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) had organized the protests that began on May 11. “On the appeal of the Awami Action Committee, it has been decided to end the ongoing lockdown and wheel-jam strike across Azad Kashmir,” Amjad Ali Khan, a member of the JAAC core committee, told Arab News on Tuesday.

Presiding over the cabinet meeting, Sharif commended the AJK government for demonstrating restraint to foil “nefarious designs of the elements, who intend to sabotage the situation under the pretext of protests,” according to the Radio Pakistan report.

He thanked Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and AJK PM Anwar-ul-Haq for their cooperation in resolving the issue “amicably.”


PM forms committee of allies to deliberate amendments to Pakistan’s social media law 

Updated 14 May 2024
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PM forms committee of allies to deliberate amendments to Pakistan’s social media law 

  • Law minister says federal cabinet will take final decision after coalition partners give feedback on draft law
  • Critics say the amendments could be used to stifle dissent and free speech instead of protecting digital rights 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a committee comprising representatives of allied parties to review amendments to Pakistan’s electronic crimes law, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said on Tuesday, highlighting that the federal government wanted to form political consensus before making changes to the law. 

The government says amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 are aimed at protecting the digital rights of millions of Pakistani users, encouraging responsible Internet use and regulating online content to prevent hate speech and disinformation. Critics say the amendments, like PECA itself, could be used to stifle dissent and free speech. In the past, PECA has been used against critics of Pakistan’s all powerful army as well as governments and cases under the blasphemy law among others have also been filed using the legislation.

Earlier this month, the government notified a new National Cybercrimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to probe electronic crimes, which digital rights activists described as yet another attempt to stifle online criticism of the state. The NCCIA was approved by the caretaker government-led federal cabinet last year to take over cybercrime investigations from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Addressing the media on Tuesday, the law minister said the draft legislation has been sent to the federal cabinet for approval after being drafted by the IT ministry according to Article 19, which deals mainly with freedom of speech.

“Despite this, the PM was of the view that a political consensus was necessary for legislation, the cabinet also agreed to the premier’s view,” Tarar said. 

“Now he has formed a committee in this regard which will include allied parties including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q), Istehham-i-Pakistan Party (IPP).”

The law minister said allied party representatives would examine the draft legislation and report feedback to the federal cabinet which would then take a final decision.

PECA

PECA was passed in 2016 during the government of Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) party, which is once more in power and leading a fragile coalition at the center. 

The law was originally enacted to combat various forms of cybercrime, including cyber terrorism, unauthorized access, electronic fraud and online harassment.

But the law has variously been used to crackdown on journalists, bloggers and other critics of the state. 

The popular social media platform X has been blocked in the country since February when Pakistan held general elections marred by widespread allegations of manipulation and rigging. 


New coach Gary Kirsten to join Pakistan cricket team in England

Updated 14 May 2024
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New coach Gary Kirsten to join Pakistan cricket team in England

  • The 56-year-old South African has served as the batting coach of Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League
  • The PCB has also appointed Simon Helmot as the fielding coach and David Reid as mental performance coach

ISLAMABAD: Gary Kirsten will start his two-year assignment as the coach of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team when he joins the squad in England on Sunday.
Pakistan will play four Twenty20s against England to prepare for the T20 World Cup next month in the Caribbean and the United States.
Pakistan has delayed naming its final 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup until the first T20 against England next Tuesday at Leeds.
Kirsten served as the mentor and batting coach of Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League. They were knocked out of playoff contention on Monday.
“I’ve missed the experience of coaching at the international level and nurturing talented players to reach their full potential,” Kirsten said in a statement issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday. “I’m committed to working closely with the (Pakistan) team to elevate their game and bring joy to fans around the world.”
Kirsten has coached India and South Africa.
Last month, the 56-year-old South African was confirmed as the white-ball coach along with Jason Gillespie as the red-ball coach.
Pakistan has done well in the last two T20 World Cups. It made the semifinals in 2021 and the final against England in 2022.
The PCB has also appointed Simon Helmot as the fielding coach and David Reid as mental performance coach of the national team for the T20 World Cup. Reid will join the team next Monday while Helmot will team up with the Pakistan side on May 31 after the T20 series against England.


Missile fired by drone kills four of a family in Pakistan near Afghan border, police say

Updated 14 May 2024
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Missile fired by drone kills four of a family in Pakistan near Afghan border, police say

  • Local police chief said strike occurred in South Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province 
  • It was not immediately clear who fired the missile and officers were investigating, the official added

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A missile fired by a drone struck a house in a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban in northwestern Pakistan along the Afghan border before dawn Tuesday, killing at least four villagers, including children, police said.

The strike happened in South Waziristan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local police chief Hidayat Ullah said. He said it was not immediately clear who fired the missile and officers were investigating. The Pakistan army evicted Pakistani Taliban insurgents from the region years ago, but they have been regrouping there.

Those killed in the missile strike were civilians with no known links to the insurgents. Villagers put their bodies on a road near a military camp and protested the killings and demanded information about who was responsible.

Most of the previous drone strikes in the area were carried out by the United States or the Pakistan army.

There was no immediate comment from the government or the military about the strike. The Pakistani Taliban, officially known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, is separate from but a close ally of the Afghan Taliban. It has been emboldened by the Afghan Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021.