Polls opened in Egypt on Saturday for parliamentary elections that will stretch over several weeks and are set to be dominated by supporters of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. A first round of voting will end on Sunday, with a second round on Nov. 7-8. Run-offs will take place in late November and early December. The polls are being held under a new electoral law under which 50% of 568 contested seats will be allocated to pre-selected lists, a system critics say benefits Sisi’s backers. The remaining contested seats will be allocated to individual candidates, and Sisi can appoint up to 28 legislators directly. Mostaqbal Watn (Nation’s Future), which in August won nearly three-quarters of the contested seats in an election for Egypt’s Senate, an advisory body, is the favourite to come out top. Sisi has overseen a sweeping crackdown on political dissent since leading the ouster in 2013 of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Mursi, who was freely elected in 2012 before mass protests engulfed his rule. Both Islamists and liberal opponents have been targeted. Supporters say the measures have been necessary to stabilise the country and carry out economic reforms that have won praise from many economists and international financial institutions.
The per tola price of 24 karat gold decreased by Rs 200 and was sold…
As Britain prepares to revisit the ballot box, executives in the City of London are…
Ferozepur Road Industrial Association (FRIA) has asked the government to work on a fast track…
For the first time in the country's history, the export of onions from Pakistan has…
Pakistan Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi briefed Chinese and international enterprises and entrepreneurs about the…
Agriculture experts have advised farmers to ensure preparation of their land for cultivation of sesame…
Leave a Comment