LAHORE: Pakistan extended a Friday deadline for candidates to file nomination papers for a national election by two days, the election commission said, allowing extra time for former prime ministers Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif to enter the race.
"The deadline for submission of nomination papers has been extended by two days to facilitate political parties and candidates," the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said in a statement on Friday shared by the body's spokesman.
The ECP said the rest of the schedule, leading to polls on Feb. 8, 2024, would remain unchanged.
Khan and Sharif have said they would submit their nominations despite a ban on their participation due to court convictions. Both are awaiting relief from higher courts that would allow them to participate.
Khan, 71, remains in jail facing a number of charges ranging from corruption to leaking state secrets.
His chances of contesting the polls were dealt a blow with a court rejecting a plea to suspend a conviction against him that disqualified him from contesting, but his lawyers have challenged the decision in the Supreme Court.
In a statement delivered through his lawyer early on Friday, Khan said "coercive and brutal attempts" were being made to oust candidates of his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), by arresting and harassing them, and snatching their nomination papers ahead of the deadline.
PTI, which won the last national election in 2018 that brought Khan to power for the first time, also said the houses of some of its candidates were raided on Thursday night.
Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi, the spokesman for the current interim government, tasked with overseeing the polls, did not respond to requests for comment on the allegations.
Khan warned that the lack of free, fair and transparent elections would lead to political instability, which would, in turn, hit the already struggling $350 billion economy.
He said his party's support for an International Monetary Fund programme was contingent on free and fair elections.
The ECP will accept nomination papers till Sunday, but a final list of candidates who have qualified for participation will be released on January 11 after a scrutiny and appeals process.
Reuters
Fri Dec 22 2023
![Pakistan extends deadline for election nominations to Sunday Pakistan extends deadline for election nominations to Sunday](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/61703234287_Pakistan.jpg)
Supporters of the Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan sit on scaffoldings to see their leader in Rawalpindi, Pakistan November 26, 2022. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro/File Photo
IOC tolak khabar angin pembatalan Sukan Olimpik Paris
Jawatankuasa Olimpik Antarabangsa (IOC) menolak "khabar angin" mengenai pembatalan atau penangguhan Sukan Olimpik Paris 2024 berikutan situasi politik di Perancis. IOC menyatakan ia adalah sebahagian daripada kempen maklumat palsu.
Warga London berharap tapi tidak optimis
Penduduk di London mempunyai pandangan dan jangkaan yang bercampur baur dengan sebilangan berasa optimistik dengan keputusan yang bakal diterima manakala yang lain mengatakan mereka tidak akan mengundi.
Parti Buruh diramalkan tewaskan Konservatif pimpinan Sunak
Tinjauan pendapat meletakkan parti Starmer di landasan untuk mendapatkan kemenangan besar tetapi juga mencadangkan ramai pengundi hanya mahukan perubahan selepas tempoh perbalahan dan pergolakan di bawah Konservatif
Enam ditahan kes rempuhan di utara India
Insiden itu berlaku pada Selasa (2 Julai) di kampung Phulrai Mughal Garhi, di daerah Hathras, di mana kira-kira 250,000 orang berkumpul untuk mendengar ceramah seorang pendakwah terkenal.
Levi majikan hanya digunakan untuk latihan kemahiran - PSMB
PSMB menegaskan bahawa levi majikan sememangnya hanya digunakan untuk tujuan latihan pekerja mereka sahaja selama ini.
Enakmen Lembah Klang Raya dibentang tahun hadapan - Amirudin
Enakmen Lembah Klang Raya Selangor dijangka dibentang dan dibahaskan di Dewan Undangan Negeri Selangor pada tahun hadapan, kata Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
Noh Omar sah sertai Bersatu berkuat kuasa serta-merta
Bekas Pengerusi UMNO Selangor, Tan Sri Noh Omar sah menyertai Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) berkuat kuasa serta-merta.
Lelaki ditahan didakwa laku gangguan seksual ketika kempen
Suspek direman selama dua hari untuk siasatan lanjut dan polis memberi jaminan akan menjalankan siasatan secara terperinci.
Muhyiddin dapatkan khidmat Peguam Diraja
Bekas Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin mendapatkan khidmat Peguam Diraja (King’s Counsel) untuk menyertai barisan pembelaannya dalam usaha beliau membatalkan keputusan Mahkamah Rayuan yang mengembalikan empat pertuduhan salah guna kuasa terhadapnya.
Dua polis parah, seorang suspek maut
Ketua Polis Daerah Muar ACP Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz berkata melalui siasatan awal, pihaknya mendapati dua anggota polis berkenaan sedang dalam tugasan rondaan dan cuba menahan kereta dinaiki suspek, untuk tujuan pemeriksaan.
![25 maut, ribuan dirawat di hospital akibat gelombang haba terik di Karachi 25 maut, ribuan dirawat di hospital akibat gelombang haba terik di Karachi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61719398664_CuacaPanas.jpg)
25 maut, ribuan dirawat di hospital akibat gelombang haba terik di Karachi
Sekurang-kurangnya 25 orang maut dan ribuan dimasukkan ke hospital akibat strok haba semasa gelombang haba terik di bandar pelabuhan selatan Pakistan, Karachi.
![7 askar terkorban dalam serangan bom kereta di barat laut Pakistan 7 askar terkorban dalam serangan bom kereta di barat laut Pakistan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61717998591_benderapakistan.jpg)
7 askar terkorban dalam serangan bom kereta di barat laut Pakistan
Tujuh askar Pakistan terbunuh dalam serangan bom kereta di bandar Lakki Marwat, wilayah barat laut Khyber Pakhtunkhwa pada Ahad.
![Malaysia ucap tahniah kepada Pakistan atas pemilihan ke Majlis Keselamatan PBB Malaysia ucap tahniah kepada Pakistan atas pemilihan ke Majlis Keselamatan PBB](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/61705067375_MohamadHasan.jpg)
Malaysia ucap tahniah kepada Pakistan atas pemilihan ke Majlis Keselamatan PBB
Menteri Luar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan mengucapkan tahniah kepada Pakistan atas pemilihannya sebagai anggota tidak tetap Majlis Keselamatan PBB.
![Gelombang haba: Sekolah di Punjab, Pakistan ditutup selama 7 hari Gelombang haba: Sekolah di Punjab, Pakistan ditutup selama 7 hari](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/71716287876_cuacapanas.jpg)
Gelombang haba: Sekolah di Punjab, Pakistan ditutup selama 7 hari
Berikutan peningkatan suhu dan gelombang haba di wilayah Punjab, timur Pakistan, semua sekolah awam dan swasta akan ditutup selama tujuh hari.
![Piala Sultan Azlan Shah: Jepun dan Pakistan kekal rekod tanpa kalah Piala Sultan Azlan Shah: Jepun dan Pakistan kekal rekod tanpa kalah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/41715385186_tbPialaSultanAzlan.jpg)
Piala Sultan Azlan Shah: Jepun dan Pakistan kekal rekod tanpa kalah
Juara tiga kali Pakistan terselamat apabila seri 1-1 dengan pasukan di kedudukan ke-10 dunia, New Zealand.
![IMF lulus pembiayaan dana AS$1.1 bilion kepada Pakistan IMF lulus pembiayaan dana AS$1.1 bilion kepada Pakistan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/51714448812_IMF.jpg)
IMF lulus pembiayaan dana AS$1.1 bilion kepada Pakistan
Tabung Kewangan Antarabangsa (IMF) pada Isnin meluluskan pembiayaan segera dana bantuan bernilai US$1.1 bilion kepada Pakistan.
![Mesyuarat khas WEF: Anwar bertemu PM Pakistan dan Menteri Luar Turkiye Mesyuarat khas WEF: Anwar bertemu PM Pakistan dan Menteri Luar Turkiye](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/81714424404_AnwarIbrahimperda.jpg)
Mesyuarat khas WEF: Anwar bertemu PM Pakistan dan Menteri Luar Turkiye
Kedua-dua pemimpin menyatakan komitmen untuk terus memperkukuh hubungan Putrajaya-Islamabad dan melonjakkan lagi perdagangan dua hala.
![Presiden Iran, Pakistan adakan pertemuan luas kerjasama Presiden Iran, Pakistan adakan pertemuan luas kerjasama](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/51713837263_tbofficialvisit.jpg)
Presiden Iran, Pakistan adakan pertemuan luas kerjasama
Presiden Iran, Ebrahim Raisi mengadakan pertemuan dengan Presiden Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, di kediaman rasmi Presiden di Islamabad dalam lawatan tiga hari beliau ke negara tersebut pada Isnin.
![Hampir 100 maut di Pakistan ekoran hujan lebat dan banjir kilat Hampir 100 maut di Pakistan ekoran hujan lebat dan banjir kilat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/41713664001_tbelectricpole.jpg)
Hampir 100 maut di Pakistan ekoran hujan lebat dan banjir kilat
Hujan lebat mengakibatkan banjir kilat di Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan dan Wilayah Punjab serta Jammu dan Kashmir.
![Pakistan sambut Aidilfitri hari ini, Bangladesh dan India rai Khamis Pakistan sambut Aidilfitri hari ini, Bangladesh dan India rai Khamis](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/71712728703_TBPAKISTAN.jpg)
Pakistan sambut Aidilfitri hari ini, Bangladesh dan India rai Khamis
Umat Islam di Pakistan dan Sri Lanka meraikan Aidilfitri pada Rabu manakala mereka yang berada di Bangladesh dan sebahagian besar India akan menyambut perayaan itu Khamis.