Reporting
Pakistan: more than 128 million voters called to vote, internet suspended
Pakistanis are voting this Thursday, February 8 for legislative and provincial elections. More than 128 million voters are called to vote. More than 17,000 candidates are in the running. Some 90,000 polling stations opened their doors the day after a day marked by violence.
At a polling station in Islamabad, Pakistan, February 8, 2024. REUTERS - STAFF
By: RFI Follow
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With our correspondent in Islamabad,
Sonia Ghezali
Long queues form in front of polling stations in big cities like Islamabad. It is difficult to assess at this stage the importance of the mobilization. Participation is an issue, during the 2018 election only 51% of voters voted. But some voters did not hesitate to go to the polling station.
“
The situation is bad, I am disappointed,”
said Mohammad Wasim.
But I vote for the PPP, the people's party, because it is the only party that cares about the poor.
» For Haider, “
it is important for any nation to mobilize and vote. If you don't vote and stay home, how do you expect to have good leaders and an economy? It is not possible.
»
Read alsoLegislative elections in Pakistan, 5th most populous country in the world
Internet suspension criticized
The serious economic crisis, the political crisis, these are the challenges of this election which is taking place under high security. On Wednesday 7,
several attacks
took place in the provinces of Balochistan against candidates and their offices. More than 600,000 security forces were deployed to ensure the safety of voters.
There are no mobile phone networks, no internet since this morning, a measure taken by the Ministry of the Interior for security reasons. A measure considered to be a bad omen by some political analysts. Measure also criticized by the candidates of PTI, Imran Khan's party, who denounce "
a simulacrum of democracy
" because it "
deprives voters of access to information
".
Read also Elections in Pakistan against a backdrop of economic depression
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