Manipulation of Form 47 by the Election Commission in the 2024 Elections
Form 47 is an important document that provides an early overview of election results.
After the 2024 general elections, citizens across the state waited with bated breath for the announcements. However, instead of releasing official statements as soon as possible, the ECP removed Form 47 and its provisional results from its website servers.
This delay in disclosing election results raised doubts about the integrity of the ECP. The flames were further fanned by PTI and PML-N candidates.
The blatant manipulation of Form 47 is cause for concern. Such exploitation erodes people’s trust in their state machinery.
Maidah Tariq questions whether Pakistan’s democratic process can ever be fully transparent, or will it remain entwined with the will of the elites?
Much Ado About Elections
Multiple events unfolded following the 2024 general elections, but one that took centre stage was the Rawalpindi Commissioner’s declaration of his involvement in the rigging.
While much of the commotion eventually died down, not many know how this event wrapped up. Like many Shakespearean plays, it’s tragic.
Honestly, it’s disappointing to see our representatives sully the sanctity of our country’s institutions.
Palestine and the System that Controls the World
Palestine has been pleading for help since time immemorial, but its plight remains perpetually disregarded. Why is it so?
It is easy to overlook the rising Palestinian body count because we have become used to the massacre. The global media – directed by Western powers and the Israeli government in particular, plays a major role in this desensitization.
Sarmad Ishfaq explains the hierarchies of the world we live in. Those in power have erected systems of control – they decide what narratives remain relevant across the board. Hypocrisy and double standards run rampant. Against these odds, will Palestine ever be able to break free of its shackles?
Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws: An Overdue Assignment
The recent Ichra Bazaar incident in Lahore, where a Maulvi claimed a female wearing a kurta with Arabic script to have committed blasphemy, has ignited an examination of the country’s draconian blasphemy laws.
Kalsoom Daad Khan gives an overview of the blasphemy laws present in the penal code as well as opinions by experts on the matter.
Voices Unheard in Pakistan’s General Elections: The Paradox of Gilgit Baltistan’s Political Rights
Wazir Zafar Hassan laments the political status of Gilgit Baltistan (GB), especially since the residents of the GB area do not have the right to vote in the general elections of Pakistan.
He raises his concerns in the hopes that he and the rest of the people of GB will be able to secure political representation in the National Assembly.
Rawalpindi Commissioner Admits To Rigging Elections
Hafsa Ammar highlights events that took place outside Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 17th February. Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaqat Ali Chattha held a press conference where he admitted to playing a part in rigging the general elections and manipulating the final results.
Chattha confessed to fabricating wins for 13 seats and toppling leads of 80,000 votes. He further told the reporters that Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa were also involved in the electoral misconduct.
Many think this was a bold attempt at gaining political fame due to his upcoming retirement, but if so, why did he immediately surrender to the Rawalpindi Police afterward?
Trump’s Ukraine Policy: From Allies to Ambiguity
As US elections loom, people have started to pay closer attention to candidates and their policies regarding pressing global issues.
Sanan Lashari gives his candid opinion as he explains Donald Trump’s stance regarding the war in Ukraine.
Although Trump has publicly wished for the war to end, his sentiments are troubling for the Western world as he stated he would endorse a Russian invasion of Ukraine if the latter did not pay its share of the NATO defense budget.
Divorce in Pakistan: Re-evaluating Jurisdiction of Union Councils
The rising rates of divorce in Pakistan stress the need for a thorough examination of the role that union councils play in issuing divorce certificates.
This bureaucratic procedure not only prolongs the legal process but also poses significant challenges, particularly for women, in terms of mobility, economic strain, and susceptibility to harassment and corruption.
Mahroosha Saleem suggests that reforming the system to issue divorce certificates immediately upon the finalization of divorce decrees will not only promote gender equality but will also empower women to take the intimidating step.
US Support to Israel: Fueling the Palestinian Tragedy
George Salhab denounces the influence of the pro-Israel lobby on the decision-making of the United States. In a war where thousands have lost their lives to Israeli attacks, American support for the Zionist state is a clear indicator of where its loyalties lie.
The Balochistan Issue: Exploitative Politics?
The political structure of Balochistan has always remained a conflictual issue. The author, Irfan Ullah Buzdar, is of the opinion that political insecurity and inaction are at the root of the “Balochistan Issue.” The residents live a miserable reality, devoid of basic facilities and fundamental rights such as education, healthcare, and individual security.
It is high time for the state institutions and the government to take effective measures to meet the grievances of the people of Balochistan, otherwise, it will be too late.
The White Man’s Burden – An American Delusion
Hadiqa Maryam Abbasi delves into a deconstruction of Rudyard Kipling’s poem ‘The White Man’s Burden’ which was published in 1899 and elaborates on how the message of the poem is still reflected in the policies and operations of the American Hegemon.
She uses the invasions of Libya and Iraq to set the foundation for her argument and provides snippets from speeches and press claims of various US politicians such as Obama, Powell, and Bush, which reiterate the American liberal responsibility and authority over other states and their governments.
Is the Softening of the US’s Support for Israel Possible?
The US’s unshakable support for Israel has never been contested. In fact, Israel’s relentless attacks on the Palestinians is primarily due to the US’s diplomatic and military support.
Many think that unless the US exerts enough pressure on Israel in exchange for its support, Israel will not make any serious effort to resolve the conflict with Palestine.
Given the ire of the public and the incoming presidential elections, can the US support for Israel remain rock solid?
Evolving Concept of Sovereignty in Democratic & Capitalistic Societies
Traditionally, sovereignty as a concept stirred very strong emotions and feelings. The grandeur of the idea was associated with monarchs and states. It percolated from the top towards the subjects below. However, as individual freedom and democratic norms are being translated into entrepreneurial activities/institutions, the concept of sovereignty is evolving.
Alphabets of Resistance
Dr. Zainab Amanullah Khan narrates the plight of the Palestinians in an alphabetical order. She delves into the concept of resistance as a potent factor in this war against the genocide by the Israeli government against the native Palestinians through alphabets. In a world where the call for justice and equity has never been louder; this piece amplifies the loud uproar that is refusing to be silenced this time. It encapsulates the sheer destruction that the brave people of Palestine have been subjected to and highlights the importance of facts as the sole driving power against propaganda in these dire times.
Liberty’s Symphony: Military Trials Declared Unlawful for Civilians
Usama Bin Zafar provides an analysis of the legal history of military trials in Pakistan, tracing the evolution of jurisprudence over time through landmark judgements. He additionally appreciates the recent landmark order by a five-member Supreme Court bench that has held military trials unlawful for civilians.
Judiciary vs Executive
Huzaifah Sehgal explores the challenges of justice, highlighting the judiciary’s struggle to hold the executives accountable in Pakistan.
He gives the example of Abid Boxer, a dismissed police officer, accused of multiple extrajudicial killings; none of which were accounted for.
In essence, this opinion argues for a unilateral threshold of accountability for all, and the judiciary’s assertive role to this end.
AI in Modern Warfare: A Glimpse into the Future of Conflict
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly utilized in warfare, influencing strategic decisions, military systems, and even propaganda.
In Sudan’s civil war, AI-powered voice cloning impersonated the former president, altering public perception. The Russia-Ukraine conflict witnessed AI advancements in target recognition, data analysis, and drone usage.
Israel’s “Fire Factory,” an AI system, aids in targeting and conducting bombings. In light of this, Bisma Ali, contemplated the future of warfare and how AI would completely change war as we know it.