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Why will there not be Fair and Free elections in Pakistan?

3 minutes read

Why will there not be Fair and Free elections in Pakistan?

3 minutes read

I was recently invited by PILDAT, an institution dedicated to strengthening democracy. Representatives from political parties, academia, and the media gathered to address the question of whether there will be free and fair elections in Pakistan. I raised several points during the event, and I would like to share them with you here at NHS Media.

The most significant dilemma is that Pakistan’s political class has conducted the worst assault on democracy. They were willing to engage with the military establishment but not with each other. A new trend has emerged in which politicians refrain from discussing even national security issues. For instance, when India conducted a surgical strike in Balakot in 2019, everyone was in the room except the former Prime Minister, who refused to engage with opposition leaders because he labeled them as corrupt. When politicians do not engage in dialogue, how can they ensure free and fair elections?

It appears that the international community is not giving adequate attention to free and fair elections in Pakistan. Democracy could be compromised if Pakistan’s unelected institutions remain engaged beyond their mandate. The relevance of Pakistani institutions abroad increases when political parties and leadership fail to adopt a democratic culture in their behavior. The more politicians act immaturely, the worse it will be for democracy, as the world requires serious partners in Pakistan. The political class has a myopic and parochial understanding of foreign policy issues due to a lack of education in foreign policy and ongoing confrontation with the military establishment. Prime Minister Anwar Ul Haq Kakar was conspicuously ignored at the UN and in the United Kingdom; he was not asked about fair and free elections. The international community should advocate for free and fair elections rather than selecting powerful partners for their convenience.

Times have changed dramatically, as polarization among parties has altered the behavior of politicians. Political parties now seem to consider rigging as their right. In 2018, the previous ruling party, PTI, was favored by the military establishment, and in 2023, PML-N appears to be the favorite. Politicians work to create a favorable environment with the support of the establishment. In the past, there used to be rigging, which was often denied, but now the political landscape is transparent due to social media. Predicting election results has become easier; it doesn’t require scientific calculation, but rather an understanding of the direction of the political narrative. In such circumstances, how can free and fair elections be conducted?

There has been, and continues to be, an assault on the hope of ordinary people. They are being influenced by mainstream and social media to look toward a winning party rather than one under scrutiny. Structurally, hope is dwindling, and local representatives of pro-establishment parties are busy with development work, which sends a message to the public that they are coming into power. Many refer to this as pre-poll rigging.

To ensure fair and free elections, non-partisan institutions must exert pressure equally on all political parties and establishments. Political parties that have close ties to the establishment see it as their turn to be in power. While the judiciary and the establishment are often blamed for undermining democracy, political parties should be encouraged to engage with each other and refrain from seeking support from the judiciary and establishment for their political gains. Otherwise, no one will trust that elections are truly free and fair.

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