Author: Usama Mudassar

Comparing the current elections to those in 2018, Sherwani noted a significant increase of 54.74% in the number of candidates. This surge has necessitated an additional 194.75% of special paper for the ballots. Despite the challenges, including a 10% paper wastage during printing, efforts were made to reduce the paper requirement from 24 tons to a maximum of 2170 tons by minimizing the size of the ballot papers.

In a surprising move, PTI announced the postponement of its intra-party elections scheduled for February 5th. When questioned about the parties involved in potential alliances, Hassan coyly remarked that forgetting to mention their names was out of the question, maintaining an air of secrecy around PTI’s prospective allies.

PTI leader Asghar Mahmood Munda, the brother of the detained candidate, released a video statement from abroad, alleging that his brother’s arrest was orchestrated by political opponents. In his statement, Asghar Mahmood Munda voiced concerns about the misuse of legal mechanisms to target political figures and asserted that his brother is a victim of political maneuvering.

During the address, Emal Wali emphasized the importance of a peaceful environment on election day. He conveyed the message that if anyone altered their behavior, his party would respond appropriately. He underscored the sanctity of the vote, stating that casting a vote does not determine one’s entry into heaven or hell.

The JI chief asserted that once in power, his party would bring back Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and expressed solidarity with the people of Palestine, stating that the Palestinians are awaiting the support of Pakistan.

He informed the media that over 120 million citizens across the country are eligible to cast their votes, with more than 69 million registered male voters and over 59 million registered female voters.