ECP | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

I-voting website survives cyber attacks

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: The website dedicated to provide overseas Pakistanis with a right of internet voting sustained multiple cyber attacks, sources told Geo News. Voting for by-election on 35 national and provincial assemblies commenced at 8am across the country, with more than 300 candidates, including some political bigwigs, in the running. According to sources, the i-voting website […]


HRCP wants minorities to have same rights as majority

Pakistan Press Foundation

KARACHI: After May 11, 2013, the elections and electoral process has become a very touchy topic for many. It drives them to protest and hold sit-ins in the country’s capital. To understand, explain and propose changes in the country’s electoral procedures, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) held an event on Friday. The commission […]


Senior journalist challenges Imran to prove allegations

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: PTI chief Imran Khan’s rigging allegations against Geo have baffled many as to how a TV channel could change the results of elections by airing the speech of a leader which was also telecast by all other major channels. Seasoned journalist Iftikhar Ahmad, who headed Geo’s election transmission, has challenged Imran to have a […]


LHC issues notice to ECP on petition against reserved seats for women

Pakistan Press Foundation

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Election Commission of Pakistan on an application seeking a stay order against the election on reserved seats for women in parliament and the Punjab Assembly. Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah issued this order on an application moved by a lawyer, Tariq Aziz Malik, […]


55m text messages sent to ECP, companies make billions

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: The Short Messaging Service (SMS) for verification of voters list launched by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), in collaboration with Nadra and telecom companies, received over 55 million hits and generated multi-million rupee revenues for each stakeholder. When contacted, Secretary ECP Ishtiaq Khan said on Tuesday the total hits on this service were […]


Repolling recommended in constituencies where women were not allowed to vote

Pakistan Press Foundation

A team of election monitors have demanded that polls be declared void in constituencies where women were barred from voting. Gender Concerns International on Monday demanded that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) nullify the results and call fresh elections in every constituency where women were barred from voting due to flagrant violations of the […]


HRCP finds flaws in polls, offers solutions

Pakistan Press Foundation

LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has recommended a serious initiative to revamp the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), redefine its priorities and reduce bureaucrats’ meddling in political affairs. The recommendations have been made in the HRCP’s preliminary report on Elections 2013 based on its monitoring of the electoral process before and on […]


Geo News draws criticism from PML-N, PTI

Pakistan Press Foundation

KARACHI: A day after Geo News unveiled what appears to be one of the largest election transmissions in the history of broadcasting in Pakistan, it drew criticism from the two parties who are predicted to steal the show in the polls being held across the country today. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) issued a press […]


White Label Service: Election fever leads to surge in SMS traffic

Pakistan Press Foundation

KARACHI: With the election fever at its peak, the cellular mobile operators have recorded a significant increase in data traffic mainly because of an election-related service in May. On the other hand, the Election Commission of Pakistan and National Database and Registration Authority have earned more than the five CMOs combined from the same service. […]


ECP failure: Media, advertising and elections

Pakistan Press Foundation

As we approach the finish line on May 11 in a fog of bombings, killings, advertising blitzes, media clamour and derogatory invective by leaders, it seems that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has squandered an opportunity to effectively monitor and regulate the use of advertising and media during the elections. An unprecedented opportunity became […]


Ordinance for polling abroad promulgated

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: Just a couple of days before the general elections, President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday approved and signed an ordinance to facilitate the overseas Pakistanis to cast their votes from abroad, but only in the next elections. The Electoral Laws (Amendment) Ordinance 2013 has been signed by President Zardari on the advice of caretaker […]


Likely suspension of mobile service on election day

Pakistan Press Foundation

KARACHI: The likely suspension of mobile services on election day (May 11), as hinted by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Secretary Ishtiaq Ahmad the other day to avoid any possible terrorist attack, is likely to cause a loss of Rs 1.0 billion to Rs 1.5 billion to the cellular phone companies, Daily Times learnt on […]


Mobile phones inside polling station banned

Pakistan Press Foundation

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday said that in order to stem chances of any manipulation of the polling process, a voter would not be allowed to carry cell phones inside polling booths. An ECP press release said that the measure would be adopted to ensuring smooth and transparent conduct of polls […]


Elders won’t let Paikhel women cast vote

Pakistan Press Foundation

MIANWALI: Despite reportedly agreeing to allow women their right to vote over a month ago at a gathering arranged by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Ayla Malik in Paikhel union council, the area elders have again barred the female folk from exercising the right to franchise on May 11. During a visit by this correspondent to the […]