News

Pakistan: Musharraf faces call to resign, CNN (2008)

The ruling party of Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf admitted defeat in parliamentary elections Tuesday, and one senior opposition leader said it was time for the president to step down.

Pakistan: Musharraf's foes triumph at polls, BBC (2008)

The main party backing President Pervez Musharraf has admitted defeat in Pakistan's elections.

Pakistan: Bhutto's party to form coalition with Sharif, The Guardian (2008)

The Pakistan People's party will seek a national government that includes supporters of Nawaz Sharif, the husband of assassinated opposition leader Benazir Bhutto said today.

Pakistan election proves tense, chaotic and inconclusive, International Herald Tribune (2008)

Fearful of violence and deterred by confusion at polling stations, Pakistanis voted Monday in parliamentary elections that may fail to produce clear winners and could result in protracted post-election political skirmishing.

Pakistan: The Gilgit-Baltistan election: who stands where! The International News (2009)

This article comments on the first elections taking place in the province of Gilgit-Baltistan after it attained the province status and at the same time, the first elections in the region after the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. The author comments on the intense political campaign and the engagement of the different parties.

Pakistan: Official results of GB polls announced, Daily Times (2009)

The elections in Gilgit-Baltistan were won by the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), which was however accused by the PLM-Q party as well as the Muttahida Qaumi Movement of large scale rigging in the elections.

Pakistan: Pak NGOs report massive irregularities in Gilgit-Baltistan elections, Thaindian News (2009)

Despite the fact that the government has denied all election fraud allegations in the recent provincial elections in Gilgit-Baltistan, the coalition of NGOs reports several irregularities and blames the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of misusing its power and authority.

Pakistan's Swat valley holds election, BBC News (2010)

People in Pakistan's Swat valley are voting for a new provincial assembly member after the incumbent was assassinated by the Taliban. This is the first election since Taliban militants were ejected from the area last year after a military offensive.

Gunmen open fire on former official in Pakistan, The New York Times (2010)

Three people were killed and at least 5 wounded when gunmen opened fired on the election office of a former federal minister and opposition leader Sheikh Rashid Ahmed who is now running for a seat in the National Assembly by-election scheduled for February 24. The election is considered as a referendum on the performance of the Pakistan Muslim League-N, which is the dominant party in the Punjab province.

Pakistan: Petition challenging Zardari’s continuation as president dismissed, The Hindu (2010)

This article is on dismissing a petition by the Pakistan’s Election Commission that challenged President Asif Ali Zardari’s eligibility to hold office in the wake of the annulment of a graft amnesty that benefited him.

Pakistan: PPP grabs Balochistan Assembly seat in by-election, The Dawn Media Group (2010)

Pakistan People’s Party gained a seat in the Balochistan Assembly, as its candidate Sardarzada Nasir Khan Jamali won the by-election for PB-25, Jaffarabad-2, with a large majority.

Pakistan Seeks Return to Parliamentary System, VOA News (2010)

Pakistan's parliament is preparing to vote to take away the president's power to dismiss the prime minister. It is also to vote to change the name of one of its provinces. The proposals have deep implications for the country's political and social structure.

Pakistan’s Musharraf to form political party, Khaleej Times (2010)

Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf is planning to launch a political party in a comeback bid two years after he was unseated in elections, officials said on Wednesday.

Pakistan: Election Commission likely to introduce e-voting machine, The News International (2010)

This article reports on the statement of the Election Commission of Pakistan regarding the introduction of electronic voting machines (EVM). After consulting many stakeholders and parties, the Commission is considering the possibility to use the EVMs by 2014.

Pakistan: LG polls after preparation of new computerized electoral lists early next year, The Associated Press of Pakistan (2010)

This article discusses decision of the Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan to postpone local government elections. This delay will allow the Commission to prepare new computerized electoral lists.

Pakistan: ECP decision to delay LG polls against court order, The Daily Times (2010)

On June 15, the Election Commission of Pakistan announced the decision to postpone local government elections to next year to wait for the electoral rolls to be updated. The Lahore High Court (LHC), however, believes that this decision is contrary to its former order. As a matter of fact, the LHC already directed the federal and Punjab governments to submit a schedule for local bodies’ elections by July 1st.

Pakistan: 'Direct election for president', The Express Tribune (2010)

The Secretary General of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, called for an electoral reform introducing direct election of the President, who would have to gain 50% of the votes.

Election Commission of Pakistan invites parties to see electronic voting machines, Daily Times (2010)

This article discusses the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) decision to invite 15 major parties for a demonstration of electronic voting machines. Five voting machines were imported from five different countries, and the ECP will test them this week.

Election Commission of Pakistan set to take action against fake degree holders, The Express Tribune (2010)

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced that there will be sanctions for the parliamentarians who were able to run in the 2008 general elections with fake degrees. The ECP decided to take action against these parliamentarians as a consequence of the verdict of the Supreme Court.

Election Commission of Pakistan decides to use EVMs in election process, Daily Times (2010)

This article comments the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) decision to introduce Electronic Voting Machines in the country. The ECP, which predicts that it will take approximately 5 years to implement this decision, believes that this will guarantee transparency to the whole electoral process.

Musharraf to launch party next month, BBC News (2010)

This article reports on the establishment of a new party, the All Pakistan Muslim League. Former Pakistani military ruler, Pervez Musharraf, announced his decision to create the party, which he will launch in London on October 1st. Mr Musharraf lives in exile in London, and expressed his desire to run for the 2013 national elections. When in Pakistan, however, Mr Musharraf will have to face legal charges.

Musharraf has "very slim chances" of winning democratic elections in Pak: Holbrooke, Sify (2010)

This article reports on some statements of a US official regarding the political situation in Pakistan. Richard Holbrooke, the Obama administration's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, stated that Former President Pervez Musharraf has very slim chances of regaining power in the 2013 elections. Last month, Musharraf announced the creation of his new party, the All Pakistan Muslim League.

Musharraf says his party is prepared for early Pakistan polls, Sify (2011)

This article reports on the statements of Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf regarding the next elections in the country. Musharraf stated that his newly formed party, the All Pakistan Muslim League, is ready for possible early elections and that he will return in the country just before the poll. On his return, however, the former military chief will have to face some legal charges.

Pakistan: Restructuring of Election Commission, The Daily Times (2011)

This article discusses the restructuring of the Election Commission of Pakistan according to the 18th Amendment. As a first step, the Lower House received nominations for the formation of the 12-member committee to implement the reform in the EC, and which will eventually nominate the members of the commission.

Pakistan: EC casts doubt over degrees of 298 MPs, The Nation (2011)

This article reports on the declarations of the Election Commission of Pakistan regarding further investigation on the fake degrees scandal. The ECP declared that as many as 298 parliamentarians (one fourths of the total number) have been reluctant to provide supporting documents to verify their graduation degrees during a wide verification process launched by the High Education Commission. The sitting MPs will lose their seats if they will not cooperate.

Pakistan: Cabinet approves bill to ensure transparent elections, The Daily Times (2011)

This article reports on the Election Laws Amendment Bill in Pakistan. The newly-passed election bill introduces some measures to ensure security and integrity of the database of the electoral rolls.

Pakistan: Cabinet approves election law amendment bill-2011, criminal law amendment bill-2010, International News Network (2011)

This article reports on the federal cabinet's approval of the Election Law Amendment Bill.

Pakistan: ECP starts to prepare Electoral Rolls in collaboration with NADRA, Associated Press of Pakistan (2011)

The article states that the Election Commision of Pakistan starts preparing electoral rolls in collaboration with NADRA (National Database & Registration Authority). Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice Hamid Ali Mirza said that ground work for preparation should start immediately.

Pakistan: PML-N wants new election commissioner, The News International (2011)

The article discusses the reorganisation of the Election Commission of Pakistan. PML-N (Pakistan Muslim League) has demanded the appointment of a new Chief Election Commissioner to achieve an independent and impartial election commission.

Pakistan: Electoral rolls: New lists illustrate possible prior anomalies, The Express Tribune (2011)

The article discusses the electoral rolls in Pakistan. The new voter lists contain over 83 million names and are based on biometric database. The new lists have raised a question of integrity of previous electoral rolls as the number of elibigle voter has grown only 3.8 per cent whereas the estimated growth of population in Pakistan is 8.2 per cent during the same time period.

Pakistan: No progress on ECP as PPP-PML-N drag issue, The News International (2011)

The article describes the deadlock in attempts to establish an independent Election Commission of Pakistan. The latest delay has resulted from disputes between PLM-N (Pakistan Muslim League) and PPP (Pakistan Peoples Party) to form a 12-member body for the commission.

Pakistan: Probe into Shangla by-polls urged, The News International (2011)

The article discusses the accusations that women were deprived of their voting rights in by-polls held in Shangla, Nepal. This comes out in a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan written by the Women's Parliamentary Caucus (WCP).

Pakistan: NA speaker’s foreign visit delays notification, The Nation (2011)

The article discusses the process of appointing a parliamentary committee to reform Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza is currently visiting abroad which delays the process as the speaker has to sign the notification of proposed committee.

Pakistan: ECP, NADRA to join hands to prepare ‘Electoral Rolls-2011’, Associated Press of Pakistan (2011)

The article discusses the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan to prepare electoral rolls 2011 in cooperation with NADRA. Door-to-door enumeration for voters’ registration will start in June after completion of house listing by the Statistics Division.

Pakistan: ANP serves show-cause notices on 10 workers, The News International (2011)

The article discusses observed disenfranchisement of women in recent Shangla by-election. The Awami National Party (ANP) on Thursday gave notices on its 10 party workers and polling agents for their alleged involvement in this violation of women's political rights.

Pakistan: Election Commission defers EVM system, The Nation (2011)

The article discusses the decision of Election Commission of Pakistan to postpone the introduction of electronic voting system due to political parties' attitudes and possible costs.

Pakistan: Election Commission secretary decides to quit, The Express Tribune (2011)

The article discusses Pakistan EMB secretary's decision to step down. This may harm the process that the commission has started to make elections more transparent. It has been said that the reason for quitting are differencies with the CEC Justice.

Pakistan: "Electoral reforms needed before next elections", The Express Tribune (2011)

The article discusses the views expressed at an election law conference. Reforms were emphasized especially in the areas of empowering the masses.

Pakistan: Zardari orders early change in LG law, The Nation (2011)

The article discusses the Pakistani president Zardari's views on local government elections. President has ordered the Sindh government to start preparations for this year's local elections and emphasizes the need to create a more uniform LG law.

Pakistan: ECP plans to purchase 0.16m ballot boxes, The News International (2011)

The article discusses preparations for Pakistan general elections.

Pakistan: PTI decides to move court against 2008 polls, The News International (2011)

The article discusses disputes over Pakistan 2008 elections. A court appeal has been made to declare the results null and void because it has been claimed that more than 30 million people were not given their right to vote.

Pakistan: SC seeks ECP, Nadra’s comments on dubious voters, The News International (2011)

The article discusses preparations for elections in Pakistan. The Election Commission had found that over 37 million voters registered in 2007 were either duplicated, multipliplicated or bogus entries.

Pakistan: Senate unanimously passes Election Laws (amendment) Bill 2011, SANA (2011)

The article describes the decision of tha Pakistan Senate to pass the bill amending Electoral Law. The bill aimed at improving integrity and security of elections.

Pakistan: SC seeks list of MPs elected in by-polls after 18th Amendment, The News International (2011)

The article discusses electoral integrity in Pakistani general elections in 2008. The Supreme Court is now investigating the members of the Senate and national and provincial assemblies due to petition on bogus votes in voters' list.

Pakistian: Imran stresses for independent election commission, Pakistan Observer (2011)

The article reports that the "Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan ... highlighted the need for setting up an independent election commission for holding transparent elections in the country and added that the PTI had moved the court to ensure the same." This was in the context of a meeting between Khan and the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan.

Pakistan likely to hold election in March 2013, Oman Tribune (2012)

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have agreed on next general election in the first quarter of the next year most likely in the second week of March. The two parties reached on this decision after rounds of talks between the ‘negotiators’ following behind-the-door consultations.