By Irum Saleem
Pakistan has seen yet another controversial election which is unfortunate.
The PTI backed candidates is leading with 92 National Assembly seats followed by the PML-N 64 and PPP 50.
Several PTI candidates have alleged post polls rigging. The results saw dramatic change overnight in favour of PML-N, being a favourite party of the powerful circles.
Nawaz Sharif is keen to form the government rather desperate. Let’s see if PPP agrees to give PM slot to PML-N.
Amidst limited reporting due to the suspension of communication services, there were some reports of delays in the polling process and various violations of rules and the election code of conduct on Thursday’s polls.
It seems that all that remains now is the counting of votes and declaration of winners. As results trickle in overnight, we will learn how many chose to exercise their right to franchise on this historic occasion.
Till a clearer picture emerges, some reflections on the exercise: These elections had been critical for Pakistan for various important reasons. The country is mired in unprecedented economic and social challenges, which cannot be solved except by a stable government that enjoys strong public support for its decisions. Given its dependence on international assistance, it is also important for it to stabilise socially so that lenders and investors can feel safe about their decisions. With so many different forces pulling the country at its seams, it was almost good luck that a general election became due last year.
All that was needed was for the ECP to let candidates campaign without restrictions, prepare the grounds for a clean and non-controversial contest, assist the country’s adult population in freely exercising their right to self-determination, conduct a transparent count of their ballots, and quietly and respectfully bow out.
As history will bear witness, it failed on almost all of those counts.
ترجمان امریکی محکمۂ خارجہ میتھیو ملر کا کہنا ہے کہ انتخابی عمل میں مداخلت یا دھوکہ دہی کے دعوؤں کی مکمل چھان بین ہونی چاہیے۔#VOAPakistanElections #US #Pakistan https://t.co/OvJCJgRxCs
— VOA Urdu (@voaurdu) February 9, 2024
From repeatedly delaying the elections on one pretext or the other to failing to protect the legitimacy of its last act, it betrayed its mandate by organising an exercise that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. It is difficult not to be disappointed: given the number of times the ECP hid behind the Constitution’s ‘free and fair’ condition to justify putting them off ‘till it was ready’, one would have imagined the exercise, whenever it was eventually held, would be largely irreproachable. PAK DESTINY
