ISLAMABAD: Pakistan authorities have sealed the home of an NGO chief who authored a report alleging widespread rigging in national elections last year, he told AFP on Saturday.
Polls in February 2024 took place with the nation’s most popular politician Imran Khan jailed and barred from running, and a coalition of parties considered pliable to the powerful military took power.
This month, NGO Pattan published a report on the elections and described them in a statement as “unprecedentedly rigged” with “vote-rigging, fraud and manipulation.”
Pattan chief Sarwar Bari — currently in London — said his home in the capital Islamabad was sealed off on Friday night.
“This is obviously in response to the report,” he told AFP.
His wife Aliya Bano said the property was closed off by a team of around two dozen including police officers, magistrates and Islamabad administration officials.
A judge’s order to seal the residence, seen by AFP, said Pattan’s registration as an NGO had been canceled in 2019 and it was operating illegally.
Bari said he often used his residence for Pattan meetings and postal correspondence but was adamant it was primarily his home.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said in a statement on social media platform X that it was “alarmed” by reports his home had been sealed.
“Such tactics of intimidation against citizens are unacceptable,” the statement said. “The matter should be heard immediately in a court of law.”
Pattan has called for a public inquiry into the national elections which took place on February 8, 2024.
Ahead of the vote ex-prime minister Khan’s party was targeted by a sweeping crackdown, which saw numerous senior leaders arrested and their street campaigning disrupted.
Days before the poll, Khan was convicted of a trio of offenses including graft, treason and illegal marriage.
Polling day itself was marred by a mobile Internet blackout, which Islamabad said was necessary to address security concerns.
Social media platform X has been banned since soon after the polls, when it was used to air rigging allegations.
Despite the setbacks, candidates loyal to Khan won more seats than any other party but a coalition led by two former rival parties considered allies of the military shut them out of power.
Pakistan’s military has directly ruled the country for decades at a time and continues to wield immense power in civilian politics, analysts say.
Pakistan NGO chief critical of last general elections has home sealed
https://arab.news/8nmgd
Pakistan NGO chief critical of last general elections has home sealed
- Pattan chief Sarwar Bari says his Islamabad residence was sealed in response to a recent election assessment
- Authorities maintain Pattan’s registration as an NGO had been canceled in 2019 and it was operating illegally
Pakistan U19 to open tri-series against Afghanistan on Saturday in Zimbabwe
- Pakistan enter the tournament as U19 Asia Cup champions after beating India by 191 runs in Dubai
- The tri-series is seen as key preparation for next month’s U19 World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s under-19 cricket team will begin their tri-series campaign against Afghanistan on Saturday in Harare, using the tournament as a key preparation for next month’s ICC Men’s U19 World Cup co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Pakistan, the reigning ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup champions, are competing in the 50-over tri-series alongside Afghanistan and hosts Zimbabwe, with each team playing the others twice before the top two advance to the final on Jan. 6.
Pakistan won the eight-team Asia Cup in Dubai earlier this month, beating India by 191 runs in the final, and will play a minimum of four matches in the tri-series, starting at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
“The Asia Cup was a good win for us and the players showed great morale and intensity,” Pakistan captain Farhan Yousaf said, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). “The tri-series is very important for the players and will help us find the right combinations ahead of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup.”
Pakistan will face Zimbabwe on Dec. 29 before meeting Afghanistan again on Jan. 2, followed by a second match against the hosts on Jan. 4. Matches will be played across venues in Harare, including Harare Sports Club, Prince Edward School and Sunrise Sports Club.
The tri-series is being seen as an important warm-up ahead of the U19 World Cup, which will be held from Jan. 15 to Feb. 6. Pakistan are placed in Group C and will play all their group-stage matches in Harare.
“The conditions here are similar and will be beneficial for our World Cup preparations,” Yousaf said. “Both teams in the tournament are strong and competitive and we respect every opposition as we look forward to a competitive event.”
Pakistan will open their World Cup campaign against England on Jan. 16, followed by matches against Scotland and Zimbabwe, with the Super Six stage beginning on Jan. 25 and the final scheduled for Feb. 6 at Harare Sports Club.
