Dr. Muhammad AkramZaheer

Last week in Pakistan, something surprising happened in the big national election. Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), won more votes than anyone expected. This unexpected win has made many people worried about what might happen next in the country. People are concerned that this could lead to more confusion and problems in the government. Imran Khan has been a well-known figure in Pakistani politics for a long time. He leads PTI and has promised to bring in a new and better way of running the country, with transparency, accountability, and economic growth. However, the election results have made people doubtful and anxious. Many are questioning whether the election process itself can be trusted. The national election had been delayed for a long time, creating uncertainty and suspicion among the people. Delays in elections often make people not trust the process, and the long wait had made many wonder why it was postponed in the first place. The sudden turn of events in favor of PTI has only added to these doubts, creating an atmosphere of political uncertainty that might harm the stability of the nation. One major worry about PTI’s unexpected win is that it might lead to more political problems. A sudden change in who holds power can make the country’s political institutions shaky, which could affect how the government works and puts policies into action. Without a clear decision from the voters, existing challenges could become even more difficult to handle, leaving the country in a state of political uncertainty.The surprising outcome has also raised questions about the health of Pakistan’s democracy. Democracy relies on openness, fair play, and accepting the results of elections. PTI’s unexpected victory has led to claims of irregularities and manipulation from other parties, making people doubt if the results are legitimate. Such accusations can make people lose trust in the democratic process, making them doubt the power of their vote to bring about real change.

Before the election, people thought that no party would get the most seats in the National Assembly. Many expected Nawaz Sharif’s party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), to get the most seats and easily make a government with the help of other parties. On the other hand, Imran Khan’s PTI faced challenges from the military, which affected its chances. Surprisingly, independent candidates linked to PTI won the most seats, giving them the chance to create a new government. This unexpected result has created uncertainty and might cause more political issues in Pakistan. The voter turnout was about 47%, which is higher than usual for Pakistan but lower than the previous election in 2018. The National Assembly has 336 seats, and the election was for 266 seats. PTI got the most seats with 92, followed by PML-N with 77, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) with 54, and MuttahidaQomi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) with 17. PTI, officially banned, is expected to join forces with an approved party to combine their votes. The election results have divided political forces into two camps. PTI, claiming election manipulation, plans to appeal to the courts and protest peacefully. PML-N, the other camp, is negotiating with other parties to create a coalition government. PML-N seems to have a clearer path to getting the majority needed to govern.

The military seems to be the biggest loser in the election. The results show that the public is angry at the military’s involvement in the election process. The military, which hasn’t faced such criticism since 1970, is now on the defensive. Despite strong arguments between PTI’s leader and the military, some repairing of relations might be needed for PTI’s leader to regain freedom and office. However, it is likely that Pakistan will end up with a weak and unstable coalition government. This government may struggle to address the significant economic, social, and environmental issues facing the country. Both PTI and PML-N, whether in government or opposition, may spend much of their time questioning the legitimacy of the government and demanding new elections, making the 2024 national election another challenge for Pakistan’s democracy.

Dr. Muhammad Akram Zaheer

Elections are like a big decision-making event where people pick a leader for their country. They do this by voting in public. The leader they choose will have power and important duties. Elections are a formal way for a group of people to make decisions, and the person they pick becomes a public official. This is a really important part of democracy, making sure the government is for the people and chosen by the people. One important thing in elections is suffrage, which means the right to vote. Not everyone gets to vote, and it’s a big question deciding who can. Usually, people under a certain age, like 18 in Pakistan, can’t vote. They’re not considered adults yet. Choosing a person to run in the election is another important part. This is called nomination. It’s like officially suggesting someone to be the leader. People might also publicly support a candidate by giving endorsements or testimonials. The way votes are counted and how decisions are made is called the electoral system. It’s like the rules and systems that make sure the votes turn into a choice for a leader. The first step is counting all the votes, and different systems use different ways, like using ballots.

So, elections are a big deal in democracy. They let people have a say in who leads the country. Voting is a right, but not everyone can do it, like kids or young people. Before the election, people suggest who should run, and others show support for their favorite candidate. The way votes are counted is called the electoral system, and it makes sure the people’s choice becomes the leader. Next, we determine the outcome based on the count of votes. Elections often fall into two types: proportional or majoritarian. Scheduling involves planning and managing elections. Those chosen by the public are responsible to them and must seek approval regularly to stay in office. Most countries hold elections at set intervals. Election campaigns are crucial during this process, as they aim to positively influence a specific group’s decision-making. Politicians compete to gain support from more individuals. The elections are a peaceful and effective method of selecting political leaders. Citizens use their votes to choose leaders whose views align with theirs. This allows people to express their preferences through political leadership. An election serves as a platform for citizens to voice their concerns. If dissatisfied with a leader, voters can remove them from power and replace them with a better alternative. Elections offer a significant opportunity for political participation. They also provide a platform to bring new issues to the public’s attention. In most democratic countries, ordinary citizens can independently run for office. Determining the result of an election involves counting the votes. Elections are often categorized as either proportional or majoritarian. Scheduling is the organization and control of elections. Those elected are accountable to the people and must seek approval regularly to stay in office. Most countries hold elections at fixed intervals. Election campaigns play a crucial role as politicians strive to influence a specific group’s decision-making by appealing to more individuals.

Elections are a peaceful and effective way to choose political leaders. Citizens use their votes to select leaders whose views resonate with them, allowing them to express their preferences through political leadership. Elections also serve as a means for people to voice their dissatisfaction. If unhappy with a leader, voters have the power to remove them from office and choose a better alternative. Elections provide a significant opportunity for political participation and offer a platform to raise new issues in the public sphere. In democratic countries, ordinary citizens can independently run for office. In most democratic countries, an individual can start a new political group and join elections. Elections are essential to make sure that the people in power are doing the right thing. If the ruling parties make mistakes, they might lose the election, so they try not to do anything harmful to the public. Elections work as a good way to control and check the power of those who are in charge. Now, let’s talk about Pakistan and its upcoming 2023 election. The country is facing many serious problems that need quick attention. Pakistan has a huge population of over 241 million, and it’s growing at a rate of 2.55%. This means the nation is at a very important point in its development. In this detailed article, we will explore the various challenges that Pakistan is dealing with, emphasizing how crucial the role of political leadership is as the country gets ready for this significant election. The challenges that Pakistan is facing are diverse and urgent. They need immediate action and attention from the leaders. The population is large, and the growth rate is significant, making it crucial for the government to address various issues. The article will discuss these challenges in detail, highlighting the importance of having strong and capable political leaders during this crucial time.

Waheed Hussain

Since 1985, I have been watching conduct of general elections, the winners always declared the process free, fair and transparent, while, the losers called it rigged. The last week elections ended up with the same old narrative of accusations and counter-accusation of massive rigging and irregularities across the country. In interior Sindh the GDA, in Karachi Jamat-i-Islami, Tehreek Labaaik Pakistan and Pakistan Tehreek Insaf, in Baluchistan the nationalists and JUI (F), in Khyber PakhtunKhwa Awami National Party, while in Punjab PTI were protesting against the ECP blaming it for failing to hold free, fair and transparent polls on February 8, 2024.

Other than Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), most of these protesting political parties have ethic, regional and religious outlook. Even in the past they used to win seats in a single digit, except when they had formed election alliances either at the provincial or national levels. For Example, Jamaat-i-Islami along with other religious like-minded parties formed a Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) in 1990 elections against the Pakistan Peoples’ Party. The leading party in IJI was Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz). Again, in 2002 multi-party religious alliance Muttahida Majlis-i- Amal (MMA) was formed including Jamaat Islami (JI) and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazal) and others. The alliance had won good number of seats in the national assembly and formed a government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province.

However, as a single political party, they never won a big number of national or provincial assemblies’ seats to form an independent government.

No doubt, Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has huge following in the country. It succeeded in getting millions of votes from various constituencies in 2018, as well as in the present general elections. However, it needs some more time to win election and reach to the national or provincial assemblies.

Awami National Party (ANP) has been wining seats in various districts of the KPK province including Charsadda, Mardan, Peshawar, Sawabi, Nowshera and Malakand districts in the past. But since 2013 the PTI has defeated ANP like other political parties in the province. As for as Grand Democratic Alliance in Sindh was concerned, It was facing a tough competition from PPP.

Former President of Pakistan and co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari’s controlled and managed party was ruling the Sindh province for past 15 years. The party has a strong hold on the provincial politics. It has won the election for fourth consecutive time and ready to form another provincial government in few days. We should not forget the fact that Pakistani politics is combination of popularism, power and money. In the recent elections voters in Baluchistan preferred to elect the main stream national political parties instead of supporting the regional ethnic ones. Most of the seats in the province were being won by the PPP, JUI (F) and the PML (N).

Keeping in mind the Pakistani political and administrative structure, no doubt, that there must have been some irregularities and short-comings in the election process in some constituencies, yet, declaring the entire election exercise a faulty, is a sweeping statement based on a political point scoring. I am sure when the prominent lawyers like Salman Akram Raja and Shohaib Shaheen, who were contesting election for the national assembly from Lahore and Islamabad constituencies would present a credible evidence of rigging in the court.

The massive rigging narrative is being crafted by the PTI social media teams to target the ECP, political opponents as well as the establishment.  Suppose if any state institution was involved in the rigging, then how PTI-backed independent candidates could win hundreds of national and provincial assemblies’ seats? The final results tell that the party stood first in the National Assembly, won 85 percent seats in KP, grabbed more than 115 seats in Punjab. Was the rigging done to benefit the PTI? Many PML (N) senior leaders such as Khawaja Saad Rafeeq, Rana Sanaullah, Khuram Dastagir and Abid Sher Ali, who have been winning elections for decades from their respective constituencies have lost the election and respectfully accepted their defeat. If the rigging was done, why they were left out of the assembly? If the rigging was done why Nawaz League got just 73 seats out of 266?

Looking at the number of seats being captured by different parties, it suggests, that PTI is the actual beneficiary of the so-called rigging, if there was any? Imran Khan in 2013 elections presented the narrative of 35 punctures. He held 126 days sit-in in front of the Parliament House along with his former associate Dr. Tahir ul Qadri. Later in a TV interview he explained that he got this figure of 35-punctures from one of the TV programs. He could not prove anything regarding his claim in the superior court. The rest is the history. When his party won the election in 2018, the PDM accused him of rigging. He was accused of being a product of RTS. For four years he was tagged as selected instead of an elected Prime Minister of Pakistan. This political attitude has to change. This problem is not only with the PTI but most of the political parties have the same undemocratic, negative and selfish approach.

Every citizen has the constitutional right to protest, however, such demonstration must be peaceful. The crowd should not harm the public and private properties. They should ensure the safety of the citizens.  They should ensure free movement of the masses. But again, will these protests will address the actual issue until the candidates and the political parties approach the right forums. At the end of the day, they have to reach out to ECP and courts for the redressal of their complaints.

The problem with the PTI is that its leadership has always been using an abusive, harsh and derogatory language against all institutions including the judiciary and military. Unfortunately, the party’s social media teams follow the same practice. Social media is a platform to inform, educate and entertain the public. It’s a good source of political communication too. But some of our political parties used the platform for targeting state institutions and personalities. The social media intolerance is giving birth to the digital violence in the society. Culture of digital intolerance is harming the young generation. It’s the responsibility of all political parties specially PTI and PML (N) to follow a code of conduct on the social media while expressing their political opinions, issuing statements or reactions. After the last week elections trends on the ‘X’ platform have been launched not to criticize the election conducting body but to damage the security institutions of the country.

From political point of view the purpose of PTI protests and social media campaign regarding election results must be a strategy to put maximum pressure on the institutions and legal forums to get some kind of relief for the party leadership. With all difficulties and hurdles in the elections, PTI has performed well. It is going to form a government in PK. It has good numbers at center and Punjab. However, Imran Khan has decided not to sit with PPP, PML (N) and the MQM in coalition. Like other political parties, PTI does not have sufficient MNAs to form a government on its own. Naturally, it will sit on the opposition benches both at center and in Punjab. As an opposition it can give tough time to any future government. Learning from the past mistakes, PTI should remain part of a parliamentary system. In assemblies it will be able to challenge decisions of the government. All political players are supposed to give up their personal agendas and give the country first priority.

The writer is a senior print and broadcast journalist