Category: Pakistan

As Pakistan battles the scourge of terrorism amid the recent wave of attacks, the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) Wednesday highlighted the state’s exclusive right to carry out armed actions. “Only the state has the right to carry out armed actions […] suicide attacks are against [the principles] of Shariah,” the forum said in a statement. The council’s statement comes as the country has been gripped by an alarming surge in terrorist attacks as the nation’s more than 128 million voters gear up to elect their representatives in upcoming general…

RAWALPINDI: Nine terrorists including three suicide bombers have been killed by the security forces in retaliation following multiple attacks on Mach and Kolpur Complexes in Balochistan. Four brave members of the law enforcement agencies, having fought gallantly, embraced martyrdom along with two innocent civilians during an intense exchange of fire, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Tuesday. Multiple terrorists including suicide bombers attacked Mach and Kolpur complexes on night between January 29 and 30, which was effectively responded to by law enforcement agencies, the military’s media…

Raising many eyebrows ahead of the February 8 general polls, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-Parliamentarians (PTI-P) Chairman Pervez Khattak has claimed to win the silent support of all independent candidates from his former party led by incarcerated premier Imran Khan. Once believed to be one of the close aides of disqualified premier Khan during his tenure, the former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief minister, in his address to an election rally in Nowshera’s Rashakai town on Monday, said that the “PTI-backed candidates are standing with him” as their party does not exist these days.…

QUETTA: In the run-up to the nationwide polls, unidentified miscreants carried out grenade attacks on the election offices of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the National Party (NP) in Balochistan on Sunday. A disturbing trend emerges with violence infiltrating the political sphere. Politicians find themselves in the crosshairs, subjected to threats and attacks ahead of the February 8 elections. The grenade blasts raise alarm bells over the security measures ahead of the general polls next month and election campaigns of all political parties are in full swing across the…

As the country gears up for upcoming general elections slated on February 8, the polls organising authority Saturday tested its Election Management System (EMS) which faced “connectivity” issues during the trial. As per the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) spokesperson, though the mock text of the EMS was “successful”, the activity did face connectivity challenges causing minor issues in transmitting results to some presiding officers owing to the involvement of fibre/DSL connectivity, EMS app log-in and the steps for results transmission and editing.  The development comes as the ECP would rely…

MULTAN: A closely contested battle is unfolding in NA-149 Multan-I, featuring heavyweight candidates such as Istehkam Party Pakistan patron-in-chief Jehangir Khan Tareen and independent candidate Malik Amir Dogar, a representative of the Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI). Aijaz Janjua, the former PTI Multan district president, is also running as an independent. No PMLN candidate is participating due to a seat adjustment with the IPP. Jehangir Khan Tareen is contesting from this constituency due to his ancestral home, which has deep-rooted ties to prominent families, including Pathan families, known for having significant…

In a bid to ensure free, fair and peaceful general elections, the federal cabinet Tuesday unanimously approved the deployment of the Pakistan Army and civil armed forces personnel at sensitive polling stations and constituencies across the country. The development came during a meeting of the federal cabinet held with caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar in the chair. “The troops will perform duties in sensitive constituencies and polling stations and will also act as a rapid response force,” read a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office. On the recommendation of…

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) threw shade at the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) on Monday, claiming its Karachi heyday is a distant memory and the party’s past dominance is unlikely to return. As the polls are closing in, political activities have picked up pace in the metropolis, with the MQM-P holding an impressive power show in Karachi’s iconic Bagh-e-Jinnah on Sunday. The party insists on reclaiming its prime as its breakaway factions have come under one umbrella. During Geo News programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath”, PPP…

ISLAMABAD: Following an incident of “aerial firing” during an election rally, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has swung into action against Grand Democratic Alliance’s (GDA) candidate Irfanullah Khan Marwat. The poll organising authority ordered the Sindh Inspector General Police (IGP) to take strict action against Marwat, following “aerial firing” during electioneering in Karachi East district, in violation of the ECP’s code of conduct. The provincial police chief has also been ordered to formally inform the commission regarding the legal proceedings against Marwat – a candidate from the provincial seat,…