Continued Militant Attacks and Mobile Phone Blackouts in Pakistan; Parliamentary Election Vote Counting Begins

Vote counting for the parliamentary elections in Pakistan began after the polling ended on Thursday, February 8, coinciding with militant attacks and mobile phone service interruptions. According to Reuters, the general elections in Pakistan were held as the country seeks to emerge from a deep economic crisis while facing an increase in militant attacks. Initial results are expected to be announced a few hours after the polls closed at 5 PM local time, but it will not be possible to definitively identify the winning party until early Friday, February 9. Many analysts believe that this election may not have a clear winner. Thousands of security forces were deployed in the streets and polling centers across Pakistan, and the country's borders with Iran and Afghanistan were temporarily closed. Despite heightened security measures, nine people, including two children and five police officers, were killed on Thursday due to a bomb explosion, grenade attack, and gunfire. Previously, at least 26 people were killed in two explosions on Wednesday, February 7, near the offices of election candidates in the southwestern province of Balochistan. The terrorist group ISIS claimed responsibility for these attacks. Despite security concerns and severe winter cold, people queued for hours before polling began at voting stations. Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, the caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan, described high voter turnout as a "clear sign of public commitment to shaping the country's future." Meanwhile, the decision to cut mobile phone services drew sharp criticism from opposition party leaders. Among them, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, leader of the Pakistan People's Party and the 35-year-old son of Benazir Bhutto, called for the "immediate restoration" of mobile services. Amnesty International also described this action as a "clear attack on the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly." In response, Sikandar Sultan Raja, the head of the Pakistan Election Commission, stated that the decision to cut mobile services was made by "law and order agencies" following the attacks on Wednesday, and the commission would not intervene in this matter. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned, urged people on the social media platform X to remove passwords from their personal Wi-Fi accounts so that anyone nearby could access the internet. On the other hand, election officials reported receiving several complaints that individuals were unable to locate their polling stations due to the internet blackout. Nawaz Sharif, the former Prime Minister, after voting in Lahore, told reporters that speculation about a coalition government should not be made as securing a clear majority is important for forming a government. He, who returned to Pakistan from voluntary exile in London late last year, has committed to rebuilding the country's $350 billion economy. According to Reuters, analysts believe that the powerful Pakistani military supports the 74-year-old Sharif, which could place him in a better position. The Pakistani military claims to be apolitical and not to interfere in the country's elections.