This post is part of our special coverage of Pakistan Vote 2013 [en].
Amid threats of terrorism and reports of manipulation, determined voters in Pakistan attended in large numbers facing chaotic polling places and long lines [in] May 11, 2013 to express their voice in the first democratic transition of power in the country .
The final results have not yet been computed, but it is expected that two-time former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) [in] win and form the government [in].
The official Twitter account of the party ( @ pmln_org [in]) declared victory:
@ Pmln_org [en]: PMLN Roshan Pakistan | With the nation to trust us and support the revolution! https://t.co/Qvz4kUr2SS
A woman exercising their right to vote during the 2013 general election polling in the hometown of Benazir Bhutto on Saturday May 11. Dawood jamal Image. Copyright Demotix (11/05/2013).
Imran Khan , popular cricketer turned politician, who had attracted a large following among the young and urban voters before the general election [in], did not get a win for his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) [ in]. His former wife Jemima Khan ( @ Jemima_Khan ) remained optimistic about the match:
@ Jemima_Khan : PTI party one seat to the second and main opposition in the Assembly, governing a province. No tsunami but definitely a # nayaPakistan [new Pakistan].
The election was peaceful in most areas, although it is reported that attacks in Karachi, Peshawar and Baluchistan left 29 dead and many others wounded, leaving a total of more than 150 dead [in] caused by election-related attacks by militants Taliban and other militant groups in recent weeks.
But although violence is estimated that 60 percent [in] of 86 million eligible voters went to the polls, more than any of the recent elections in the country.
Twitter was full of reactions all day.
Faisal Sherjan ( @ fsherjan [in]) noted:
@ Fsherjan [in]: First indicator of voter turnout. The intellectuals participated in the electoral process. Young Pakistan voted for change. Voters showed maturity.
People lining up to cast their votes at a polling station during the elections in Karachi, Pakistan on Saturday, May 11, 2013. Hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis attended the polls. Image of Rana Zahid 84. Copyright Demotix (11/05/2013).
The journalist Fahd Husain ( @ Fahdhusain [in]) propelled the country to break its own brand of vote:
@ Fahdhusain [en]: Turnout in 1970 was 63 percent. The highest in the history of Pakistan. Overcoming this record! # Elections
Raza Rumi ( @ Razarumi [in]), writer, blogger and professional development expert published a comparison:
@ Razarumi [en]: In the 2008 election, voter turnout in Pakistan was 44.1% in Bangladesh, 87.4% in the 2008 elections. In India in 2009, voter turnout was 59.7%.
Electoral Commission Working Women in Pakistan (ECP) register to voters with identification cards. Image by Saad Sarfraz Sheikh. Copyright Demotix (11/05/2013).
In some parts of Pakistan, especially in the port city of Karachi, reports sprang discrepancies and electoral manipulation and allegedly did not let the people vote, which sparked protests [in] to support Imran Khan and his party PTI. Faizan Lakhani ( @ faizanlakhani [in]), Karachi journalist, published a photo of the demonstrations:
@ Faizanlakhani : Photo # PTI Karachi protests against election manipulation. # PakVotes [Pakistan votes] pic.twitter.com/yot6KebFy1
Yasmeen Ali ( @ yasmeen_9 ) also tweeted a photo showing hundreds of people protesting against the alleged manipualción:
@ Yasmeen_9: Protests against manipulation Chowk Lalak # NA125 , there are hundreds out protesting. @ HAMIDKHAN_NA125 pic.twitter.com/s8FzEEP3Sg
# Rigging [en] (manipulation) is trend in Pakistan, thanks in part to the PTI media team. It should be noted that as an important moment in the new trend of using social media as a political tool and mobilization in Pakistan.
The party maintains that the winner was the Pakistan Muslim League-N manipulating voting stations, and supposedly, videos of a polling station in Lahore NA-125 and NA 56 Rawalpindi show manipulation of votes:
@ PakVotes : Video with vote tampering released NA-56 Rawalpindi, where workers of Pakistan Muslim League-N are forcing people not to vote. http://pakvotesmap.pk/reports/view/240 ... # PakVotes
Army officers as army troops patrol have started patrolling in different areas of the city. The patrol sensitive areas has increased because of the general elections 2013, in Karachi on Friday, May 10, 2013. PPI Image Images. Copyright Demotix.
We have already started a petition [in] on Change.org, although this request is only for two constituencies in Karachi and Rawalpindi and Lahore mentions:
It must be re-elections in the constituencies Karachi-1 (NA239) to Karachi-20 (NA258) due to multiple reports of fraud and other obstacles in the process. We want free and fair elections, with voters and polling protected by the authorities against those who seek to intimidate and coerce.
Najam Sethi ( @ najamsethi [in]), head of the interim government of Punjab and former journalist, said the PTI was planning to file a complaint considering four seats have been fixed:
@ Najamsethi : I talk to [Imran Khan]. He complained of "fixes" on four seats of officials in charge [of the Election Commission of Pakistan]. He said he will file a complaint with the commission.
Pakistan is waiting for the report of the European Union observers [in], and so far no independent reports.
However, it has ordered another vote [in] in over 40 polling stations in Karachi where the election was suspended the day of the elections due to irregularities. Omar Quraishi ( @ omar_quraishi [in]), Express Tribune journalist, responded to the news:
@ Omar_quraishi : I know many people who voted for seven-eight hours in NA 250 and are very annoyed that the result will be delayed for another vote.
The Network for Free and Fair Elections (FAFEN, by name) and the Election Commission of Pakistan are asking political parties to present evidence of official complaints.
This post is part of our special coverage of Pakistan Vote 2013 [en].
Written by Qurratulain Zaman · In Gabriela Garcia Calderon Orbe · View original post [en] · Comments (0)
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