2023-07-24 12:40:55
The world is watching the decision of the government of Pakistan that it is ready for elections. Despite gaining independence along with India, no government in Pakistan has been able to complete its term yet. The term of provincial assemblies in Sindh and Balochistan ends on August 12. Along with that, the chest of Pak leaders is also rising. The next general election is coming up. The rule is that elections should be held within 60 days of the expiry of the term of the assemblies. At the same time, what will the people of the country passing through political-social-economic instability decide in the election? The government has announced that it is ready for elections. After that came the Election Commission’s announcement that the elections would be held before October 11. According to the constitution of Pakistan, a ‘caretaker’ oversees the administration during the pre-election period.
After the ouster of Prime Minister Imran Khan through a no-confidence motion, Pakistani politics has been full of events for more than a year. Pakistan stood on fire in Azadi March demanding the return of Imran Khan. The arrest came following the verdict from the Islamabad High Court. But the bail following the protest was heavy. There were other unusual developments. The government has passed a special law to override the ban on Nawaz Sharif, who was barred by the Supreme Court from contesting the elections. It is clear to the leaders that people are seeing all this. Therefore, the question of who will they stand with in the election is disturbing the sleep of the leaders? Will public support help Imran?
A Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz activist holding a circular flag of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP)
∙ Bill to overcome disqualification; Everything is family
Pakistan’s politics are mainly determined by three parties. One of these is the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was the leader. But following the corruption case, the Supreme Court disqualified him from contesting the election. Nawaz Sharif is in London for treatment since 2019. Nawaz’s brother and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is now leading the party. The party’s general council met on June 17 and re-elected Shahbaz as the party president.
Shahbaz did not forget to declare his allegiance to his elder brother in this meeting itself. He requested Nawaz to return from London and lead the elections and become the Prime Minister for the fourth time. Not for nothing, a bill was passed in the Senate the very next day. The Senate has passed a bill that would prevent disqualifying members of parliament from being banned for life from contesting elections. Nawaz Sharif, who was sentenced to seven years in prison by the Supreme Court in 2017 in a corruption case, was banned from competition till the end of his life by the Supreme Court. It is alleged that the new law is made to overcome this. Nawaz’s daughter Maryam Nawaz is the senior vice president and chief organizer of the party.
Imran Khan going to Islamabad High Court with police escort. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP)
∙ Power to No Confidence Motion
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), another major party in Pakistan, was founded in 1996 by cricket legend Imran Khan. Although Imran initially did not make much of a dent in Pakistani politics, he succeeded in attracting the youth. Imran Khan, entrenched with the slogan of fight once morest injustice and corruption, was able to win the favor of the army. Thus came to power in the 2018 election. With the Prime Minister. But later there was some discomfort with the army which was a shame for the government. In 2020, all the opposition parties formed a front called Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) once morest Imran Khan’s party.
Imran Khan was ousted from power last year by a no-confidence motion brought by opposition parties. Imran is also the first Prime Minister in Pakistan’s history to be ousted by a no-confidence motion. That day, 174 of the 342-member National Committee voted once morest Imran. But following the ouster of Imran Khan, Pakistan was in turmoil during the ‘Azadi March’. The assailants set fire to metro stations as well. In May 2023, when Imran Khan was arrested by the High Court of Pakistan, the agitation intensified once more. When Imran got bail, the violence stopped.
Bilawal Bhutto and her sister Asifa Bhutto during an anti-government march. (Photo by Arif ALI/AFP)
∙ Bilawal Bhutto’s party
The third major party in Pakistan is the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), founded by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. In 1967, the popular sentiment once morest President Muhammad Ayub Khan led to the formation of the Pakistan People’s Party. PPP has come to power in Pakistan five times since the formation of the party. He was in the forefront of the opposition four times. After the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in 2007, the party was headed by her son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Bilawal, who is only 34 years old, is the foreign minister in the current government.
∙ Meeting in UAE
Ahead of the government’s announcement that it is ready for the elections, there are reports that top members of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan People’s Party have held a meeting in the UAE. Discussions were held to contest the election as a front. The key was to reach an agreement on power sharing if successful. But some later reactions from the PPP side show that the final decision has not been made. Imran Khan’s PTI and Pakistan Democratic Movement are likely to face off.
Pakistan Peoples Party leader Bilawal Bhutto and incumbent Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif attending a press conference. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP)
Shahbaz and Bilawal are of the opinion that the split of votes once morest Imran Khan’s party will do harm. It is noteworthy that in his election readiness speech to the nation, he praised Bilawal Bhutto and Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir. The Prime Minister has announced educational scholarships and many other benefits ahead of the elections.
∙ May 9 – Black Day
All observers of recent Pakistani politics were worried regarding a peaceful election. Imran Khan’s arrest and subsequent violence have raised doubts regarding whether the nation will return to military control. The Prime Minister described May 9 as a ‘black day’ when riots broke out following Imran’s arrest. Following the arrest, people, mostly young people, took to the streets in violence. The government alleges that the youth took to the streets on Imran’s call. It was unthinkable in the past that street violence would spill over into military cantonments in Pakistan. But the army was not much agitated this time.
Footage from PTI party’s election campaign. (Photo by Asif HASSAN / AFP)
Now Pakistan Army has adopted a policy of not interfering in political affairs. Although this approach had been announced in the past too, the army had shown itself when approaching the matter. But political observers say that the army has been keeping its word for the last one year. There is a fear that this will change. Because on June 12, the National Assembly passed a resolution calling for action once morest the May 9 rioters under the Pakistan Army Act. By the rioters of May 9th, we mean the thousands of workers of Imran Khan’s party. Attacks on military cantonments are the government’s justification for such a resolution. If the resolution is implemented, thousands of people will have to face trial by military courts.
The motive behind such a resolution is to destroy Imran Khan’s political party, whether the freedom of the nation is at stake or not. Shahbaz government is taking all steps to wear down Imran Khan and his political party. An example is the countless cases that have been taken once morest Imran. In the situation of Imran’s allegation that he was brought down from the government with the support of the army, what remains to be known is the position of the army. That is, everyone is anxiously waiting to see if there will be a visible change in the attitude of non-interference in politics.
Party workers hold up Imran Khan’s picture at a rally held by the PTI party demanding that elections be held in Pakistan. (Photo by Rizwan TABASSUM / AFP)
∙ Who has the chance of success?
The new generation’s enthusiasm for Imran’s party is what scares Pakistan’s conservative parties. Sharif and Bhutto’s family politics in Pakistan. Imran entered the field and filled people with awareness regarding rights. They were encouraged to raise their voice in the society. Many people from Sharif’s and Bhutto’s parties defected to Imran’s side. Imran’s party threatened even the survival of traditional dynastic politics. However, observers say that if Imran Khan was allowed to complete five years, he would naturally fail.
This is because Imran inspired the youth but as a prime minister he did little to improve the country’s economic situation or lead to development. This caused displeasure among the people. But the front government that came to power following bringing no confidence once morest Imran might not create miracles. Not only that, by arresting Imran, the opposition made him popular once more. People forget Imran’s administrative failures and he becomes a hero once more. Imran is trying to convert it into votes in the general elections. But on the other hand it remains to be seen who Pakistan will side with when all the parties come together and try to put all the anti-Imran votes in a box.
English Summary: Pakistan to Conduct National Election in October: Who Will Win?
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