Despite facing challenges such as the suspension of cellular service, internet outages, sporadic violence, and complaints of mismanagement, Pakistanis participated in the general elections of 2024 on Thursday.
Prior to the polls, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja had assured that the watchdog had an “exclusive and independent networking system,” promising no delay in election results.
However, the claim of the Election Management System (EMS) being efficient proved otherwise as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) took over nine hours to release the initial results, facing continuous criticism for sluggishness amid allegations of rigging.
The delay invoked memories of the 2018 elections when the Result Transmission System (RTS) crashed, causing delays and suspicion. This recurrence led to widespread criticism of CEC Raja, including calls for his resignation from journalist Meher Bokhari.
30 minute deadline UP
— Meher Bokhari (@meherbokhari) February 8, 2024
Forget action against ROs. CEC should resign himself now if he doesn’t know what is happening.
Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja has given a 30 minute deadline to all ROs to give final result, or action will be taken i.e suspension. He ended up asking me, “how is it possible that Presiding Officers aren’t reaching the ROs?” 🙄
— Meher Bokhari (@meherbokhari) February 8, 2024
Journalist Zarrar Khuhro suggested that the unexpected delays, mobile blockages, and the absence of the chairman indicated foul play unless one believed in widespread incompetence among returning officers.
The unexplained delays, the mobile phone blocking, the 'missing' ecp chairman etc are all the evidence you'll ever get. Unless you actually want to believe every single RO is incompetent and cannot count. In the absence of any other reasoning there is only one logical conclusion.
— Zarrar Khuhro (@ZarrarKhuhro) February 9, 2024
Senior journalist Hamid Mir stated that the ECP failed in its responsibility to release all results by 10 am, while Syed Talat Hussain lamented that the delayed results turned a crucial moment in the country’s history into a farce. He also criticized the alleged denial of Form 45s to key candidates, questioning the transparency of the electoral process.
کل شام پانچ بجے پولنگ ختم ہوئی 18 گھنٹے گذر گئے مکمل انتخابی نتائج نہیں آئے آج صبح 10 بجے تک نتائج سامنے لانا الیکشن کمیشن کی ذمہ داری تھی الیکشن کمیشن مکمل طور پر ناکام ہو چکا ہے پوری دنیا میں پاکستان کو بدنام کرنے کا ذمہ دار کون ہے؟ #Election2024
— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) February 9, 2024
This was one of the most crucial election in the country’s history. The manner it’s results have been announced has turned this exercise into a farce. What a tragedy.
— Syed Talat Hussain (@TalatHussain12) February 9, 2024
Slowness of results and denial of form 45 to main candidates in constituencies including Lahore is now a scandal. You announce results from Sehwan and Pishin and not from nearby areas? That cannot be other than a scandal.
— Syed Talat Hussain (@TalatHussain12) February 8, 2024
Despite the chaos, PTI received praise for its defiance and the demonstration of the power of the vote. Analyst Khurram Husain commended PTI voters for their resilience against oppression, while journalist Amber Shamsi highlighted the openness with which delays were discussed on television as a positive aspect.
PTI has created history against all odds and it is time for all democrats to accept it.
— Mazhar Abbas (@MazharAbbasGEO) February 9, 2024
Am loving PTI voters right now. Results yet to be finalized, but PTI putting in a strong show despite all attempts to keep them down. Salute to this spirit of defiance.
— Khurram Husain (@KhurramHusain) February 8, 2024
This is as of 10:09PM, Feb 8. Let's see how the results shape up going forward.
PTI voters have demonstrated the power of the vote despite the oppression and challenges.
— Amber Rahim Shamsi (@AmberRShamsi) February 8, 2024
Amber Shamsi also said that the openness with which the delays in results were being discussed on television was “one of the positives”.
One of the positives of the election transmissions compared to 2018 is the openness with which the delays in the results are being discussed.
— Amber Rahim Shamsi (@AmberRShamsi) February 8, 2024
Foreign observer Christina Lamb noted that the election results indicated things were not going as planned for the authorities. Despite challenges such as imprisonment and the removal of the party’s election symbol, Imran’s independents were leading, causing surprise.
As results come in for Pakistan’s election, things not going as planned for the men in khaki – Imran Khan’s independents in a shock lead despite locking him & many of his colleagues up, taking away his election symbol and preventing them campaigning #silentrevolution
— christinalamb (@christinalamb) February 9, 2024
