ISLAMABAD: Founding Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and former prime minister Imran Khan in his message sent from jail through his family has said that he expresses his heartfelt gratitude to the people of Pakistan for entrusting PTI with a resounding 2/3rd majority. The statement has been released through PTI Secretariat. 'PTI will never compromise on people's will, and I have categorically instructed my party against engaging with any political party that has robbed people's mandate, including PPP, PMLN and MQM' imran Khan said. Imran Khan said that it was heartening to see the massive turnout. The families voting together, including women and children-truly exemplified the essence of democracy. 'I would like to especially commend our Social Media for its relentless efforts to stay ahead of the curve' he said. 'I also appreciate the role of the resilient polling agents who secured form 45 in the face of harassment and threats' Imran Khan said. He said that as the people of Pakistan have clearly pro nounced their verdict, there is a dire need for democracy and fairness in Pakistan's elections. 'I warn against the misadventure of forming a government with stolen votes. Such daylight robbery will not only be a disrespect to the citizens, but will also push the country's economy further into a downward spiral' he said. Meanwhile Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) demanded the public mandate must be respected because it was pre-requisite for survival and strength of the state and Imran Khan should be released instantly since he was the only leader who could pull the country out of the prevailing quagmire of problems. PTI Spokesperson made it clear that the elements who were hell-bent on desecration and snatching the mandate of the people to impose the criminals were enemies of the country because such attempts would further wide fissure between the state and the people, which would further weaken the state. He hinted that there was possibility of talks with everyone to bring political and economic stability in the country provided the stolen mandate was returned to the real representatives and rightful people of the country. PTI Spokesperson stated that the people, especially the young generation, under the leadership of PTI Founding Chairman, gave PTI the right of their representations in unequivocal manner, ignoring it would be tantamount to the enmity with the county. He went on to say that the nation had given a clear and unwavering expression of Imran Khan's leadership with their power of votes and only he had the ability to bring Pakistan out of the current untold crises.

ISLAMABAD: Gallup Survey forecast about general elections held on February 8, 2024 in Pakistan proved to be correct. In Punjab and the federal capital, elections results were approximately similar to each other. During general elections, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) bagged 35 % votes; vote share of PML-N 33 % whereas in Gallup Survey it was supposed to be 32 %. In the survey, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) share had been supposed to be 6 % and it obtained the same share of 6 %. According to Gallup Pakistan, in Punjab turn out remained 51 %, Sindh 42 %, KPK 40 % and Balochistan 40% too. Executive Director Gallup Pakistan Bilal Ejaz Gillani has issued initial report. According to the report, PTI regarding KPK was 45 % during the elections while it obtained 46% votes. According to survey JUI-F was 15 % while in general elections it bagged 15-75 % votes. In survey, PML-N was 9% while PPP's share was 7 % and during general elections its vote remained 6%. Whereas the voter turnout in Pakistan's 12th General Ele ctions-2024 remained 47.3%. All provinces saw decline in voter turnout. The voter turnout in Punjab remained 51 percent, Sindh 42 percent, Khyber Pakhtunkha 40 percent and Balochistan 40 percent. Highest turnout seats were in Tharparkar, Bhakkar and Bhawalpur; meanwhile lowest turnout seats were in Waziristan, Khyber and surprisingly Karachi South 3 (which had 23% turnout). 2.8 percent votes were rejected in GE-2024. Rejected votes were high in Sindh and Balochistan. Vote share and seat share differences continued to show up in GE-2024. In KP PTI was beneficiary of first past the post, in Karachi and in Punjab it was a major loser. Similar situation for PPP and smaller parties like TLP who got no seat despite 5% vote bank.

ISLAMABAD: The next government should make and amend laws that could affect the cohesiveness of the society and family, keeping the country's social fabric, national character, and religious subtleties in view while fulfilling its international commitments. This was observed by speakers at the launch event of 'Study Group on Socio-legal Legislation' - a dynamic forum established by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad, to generate debate and offer indigenous policy options for viable legislation in the country. The forum, intended to cultivate a pool of researchers for impactful contributions to the policymaking process, comprises law practitioners, academics, religious scholars, and social activists. This initiative aims to engage with stakeholders on socio-legal issues in an unbiased, constructive, and result-oriented manner. The group will convene periodically to deliberate upon various aspects of enactments and bills to form a coherent narrative for the policymakers, opinion makers, and com mon citizens, with expected outcomes in the form of policy inputs and legislative reviews. The maiden meeting of the study group was addressed by Khalid Rahman, Chairman, IPS, Professor Dr. Shahzad Iqbal Sham, constitutionalist and law commentator, Syed Nadeem Farhat, senior researcher, IPS, Dr. Shagufta Umar, director, Women Aid Trust, Khalid Naeem, member National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC), Asma Mushtaq, advocate Supreme Court, and other participants, including law practitioners, academics, ulema, and social activists. In introductory remarks, Nadeem Farhat said empowering efficient legislation plays a pivotal role in maintaining societal order, with a growing emphasis on family-related laws reflecting evolving societal norms. In a parliamentary democracy, legislative bodies assume a crucial role in addressing societal issues by enacting and amending laws that resonate with the population's changing needs. The significance of legislation, particularly in family matters, underscores the stat e's commitment to fostering equitable and just social structures. In the context of Pakistan, exploring the evolution of legislative responsiveness becomes paramount as it reflects the nation's commitment to adapting legal frameworks to meet the contemporary needs of its citizens, he said. Overall, legislative initiatives are indispensable tools in shaping the legal landscape, ensuring social harmony, and responding to the dynamic challenges of a changing society. The discussion emphasized the pivotal need to develop an efficient legislative toolkit to ensure efficacy and alignment in law-making. The participants further recognized the importance of citizen awareness, stressed the critical role of aligning legal frameworks with evolving societal changes, cautioned against impulsive law-making, and emphasized the necessity of harmonizing core values with human rights principles. The participants acknowledged the imperative of coordinating with provincial assemblies and engaging with provincial bureaucracies . Furthermore, ensuring public accessibility to information regarding the laws and the purpose of laws was deemed vital to fostering citizens' understanding. The discussion called for a deeper exploration into law-making dynamics for an effective legislative framework. In concluding remarks, Khalid Rahman stressed the imperative of capacity building within society, acknowledging that legislators play a pivotal role in shaping the socio-legal landscape. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of coalition building, recognizing the collaborative efforts required to navigate the complexities of legislative processes and their impact on society.