Election Day: Voters Dilemma

Ishtiaq Ahmed

London: Pakistan is all set to go to the polls tomorrow, February 8, 2024, against the backdrop of high inflation, economic stagnation, mounting national debt, stringent IMF bailout conditions, unemployment, rising costs of living, deepening poverty, dysfunctional institutions, dire law and order, ever-present threat of terrorist activities, and strained relations with neighbouring countries—India, Afghanistan, and Iran.

However, the campaigning has been highly overshadowed by a series of jail sentences and imprisonment of Imran Khan and the return of Mian Nawaz Sharif, who is vying to become prime minister for the fourth time around.

The PPP, the main political party led by Balawal Bhutto, the son of yet another former prime minister at the age of 35 and the youngest in the field, is also likely to be returned with significant elected members.

Yet ! it is likely that no one political party will be returned with an overall majority to form the next government.

With Imran Khan being sentenced and PTI being curtailed to clear the way for PPP and PML-N, it is still likely that neither PPP nor PML-N will command an overall majority, with a likely outcome of a coalition government, comprising of the majority party and some dispirited factions.

Over 128 million Pakistani voters, above the age of 18, will have the opportunity to vote out of a population of 241 million. Polling booths will be open from 9am to 5pm but time can be extended in exceptional individual circumstances.

Read More:https://thepenpk.com/stifling-of-democracy-in-pakistan/

Voters will cast their votes for both the national and provincial assemblies’ seats. There are 5,121 candidates contesting for the federal legislature and 12,695 for the provinces.

The National Assembly consists of 336 seats, 266 are directly elected and 70 are deemed reserved – 60 for women and 10 for non-Muslims.

To become the new prime minister, the nominated candidate, usually from a majority party, will need to secure the support of at least 169 members of the National Assembly. He or she will appoint the cabinet ministers:

Contested seats for NA 336 (266 directly elected and 70 reserved) (60 females, 10 minorities). As many as 69 male voters and 59 female voters would be choosing from 5,121 National Assembly candidates (4,806 male, 312 female, and 2 transgender) at 90,582 polling stations.

Key Trends: There is an overwhelming belief among the voters that neither of the political parties have ability to reverse the worsening economic trends and restore public confidence. There is heightened discontentment and disillusionment among the younger voters.

Equally, there are heightened concerns about the worsening law and order situation, with people feeling less safe in their homes and neighbourhoods.

This is matched by a rooted belief that corruption is widespread in government circles with high levels of distrust.

An overwhelming majority is doubting the honesty of the general elections tomorrow. Therefore, whatever the outcome, the outcome will be disputed, and we could envisage more legal wrangles.

The unknown factor in the present elections is that the PTI is still perhaps the most popular political party. It would be intriguing to see how the PTI support and sympathy vote for Imran Khan play out to influence the outcome tomorrow, activities, and strained relations with neighbouring countries—India, Afghanistan, and Iran.

However, the campaigning has been highly overshadowed by the imprisonment and a series of jail sentences of Imran Khan and the return of Mian Nawaz Sharif, who is vying to become prime minister for the fourth time around.

The PPP, the main political party led by Balawal Bhutto, the son of yet another former prime minister at the age of 35 and the youngest in the field, is also likely to be returned with significant elected members. Yet it is likely that no one political party will be returned with an overall majority to form the next government.

With Imran Khan being sentenced and PTI being curtailed to clear the way for PPP and PML-N, it is still likely that neither PPP nor PML-N will command an overall majority, with a likely outcome of a coalition government, comprising of the majority party and dispirit factions.

Read More:https://thepenpk.com/the-road-to-the-ballot-box/

Over 128 million Pakistani voters, above the age of 18, will have the opportunity to vote out of a population of 241 million. Polling booths will be open from 9am to 5pm but time can be extended in exceptional individual circumstances.

Voters will cast their votes for both the national and provincial assemblies’ seats. There are 5,121 candidates contesting for the federal legislature and 12,695 for the provinces.

The National Assembly consists of 336 seats, 266 are directly elected and 70 are deemed reserved – 60 for women and 10 for non-Muslims.

To become the new prime minister, the nominated candidate, usually from a majority party, will need to secure the support of at least 169 members of the National Assembly. He or she will appoint the cabinet ministers:

Mathematical Equation: Contested seats for NA 336 (266 directly elected and 70 reserved) (60 females, 10 minorities). As many as 69 male voters and 59 female voters would be choosing from 5,121 National Assembly candidates (4,806 male, 312 female, and 2 transgender) at 90,582 polling stations.

There is an overwhelming belief among the voters that neither of the political parties have ability to reverse the worsening economic trends and restore public confidence. There is heightened discontentment and disillusionment among the younger voters.

Equally, there are heightened concerns about the worsening law and order situation, people feeling less safe in their homes and neighbourhoods.

This is matched by a deep rooted belief that corruption is widespread in the government circles with high levels of distrust.

An overwhelming majority doubts the honesty of the general elections tomorrow. Therefore, whatever the outcome, the outcome will be disputed, and we could envisage more legal wrangles.

The unknown factor in the present elections is that the PTI is still perhaps the most popular political party. It would be intriguing to see how the PTI support and sympathy vote for Imran Khan plays out to influence the outcome tomorrow.

The author is a British citizen of Pakistani origin with a keen interest in Pakistani and international affairs.

The article is the writer’s opinion, it may or may not adhere to the organization’s editorial policy.