Protests erupt over alleged election fraud across Sindh; Preparations underway for post-election assembly session
PAKISTAN ELECTIONS 2024
PR Exclusive Update #65
PTI rules out coalition with either PML-N or PPP, seeks other options
On 12 February, Dawn reported that PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan announced the party’s decision to not engage in power-sharing talks with PML-N or PPP, preferring to sit in opposition over coalition. He also stated that the PTI would seek alliance with other parties due to their inability able to claim reserved seats because of the lack of an electoral symbol. One option is Jamaat-i-Islami with whom the PTI had formed a ruling coalition in 2013 in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Another option is Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen which has been in “PTI’s camp” for some time now. PTI has also denounced turncoats, assuring the party’s control over independent candidates. He emphasized the release of political prisoners and recognition of PTI’s mandate as essential for national healing. PTI demanded resignation of CEC and ECP members, alleging facilitation of election fraud. (Ikram Junaidi, “PTI to join hands with ‘another’ to get reserved seats,” Dawn, 12 February 2024)
Six independent winners join PML-N, one from PTI
On 12 February, Dawn reported that political maneuvering intensified as six independents who won in the recently concluded elections joined PML-N, bolstering its position. Waseem Qadir, previously associated with PTI, returned to PML-N, stating he had “returned home.” Additionally, Raja Khurram Nawaz, Barrister Aqeel, Pir Zahoor Hussain Qureshi, Sardar Shamsher Mazari, and Barrister Mian Khan Bugti also shifted allegiance to PML-N. In the Punjab Assembly, Mohammad Saqib Khan Chaddhar from PP-97 joined PML-N after meeting with Shehbaz Sharif, boosting the party’s presence. Both PML-N and PPP have intensified their efforts to win independents on their in order to increase their tallies in the national and provincial assemblies. (Amjad Mahmood, “Half dozen independents join PML-N,” Dawn, 12 February 2024)
PML-N and PPP begin formal talks for coalition government at the centre
On 12 February, Dawn reported that PML-N and PPP have formally commenced talks for a coalition government as no party has emerged with a clear majority. According to sources, the PML-N has offered PPP some key positions in lieu of alliance- the slots of president, National Assembly speaker, and Senate chairman. Shehbaz Sharif met with Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari with a team and termed the ensuing discussion ‘constructive.’ A joint declaration after the meeting stated that the “discussion included the assessment of Pakistan’s overall situation, deliberations on future political strategies, and the exchange of recommendations aimed at promoting stability and progress across the board.” With this meeting in the backdrop, Shehbaz Sharif also consulted with Maulana.Fazlur Rehman and sought JUI-F’s support in order to form a government at the centre. A meeting between Nawaz Sharif and Chaudhry Shujat was postponed. Additionally, MQM assured cooperation to PML-N. (Amjad Mahmood, “PML-N, PPP make ‘first formal contact’ to form govt,” Dawn, 12 February 2024)
Preparations underway for post-election assembly session
On 12 February, Dawn reported that the National Assembly Secretariat prepared for a new session following the conclusion of the general elections on 8 February. According to constitutional obligations, President Arif Alvi must summon the assembly by 29 February. Analysts have expressed concern over potential horse-trading due to the ruling party’s stance against alliances. Section 91(2) mandates assembly convening within 21 days of election results. The Election Commission must announce results within 14 days, allowing independent MNAs three days to join parties. The first session will see oath-taking, speaker and deputy speaker elections, and prime ministerial election on subsequent days. Over 150 positions, including prime minister and federal ministers, are at stake. Senate elections will follow, enabling further political maneuvering. Further President Alvi congratulated Pakistan on high election turnout. (Syed Irfan Raza, “New National Assembly must be summoned by Feb 29,” Dawn, 12 February 2024)
Protests erupt over alleged election fraud across Sindh
On 12 February, Dawn reported that protests erupted across Sindh against alleged election fraud. Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) members “took to streets across the province and staged demonstrations blocked highways,” terming the elections ‘fraudulent.’ They also demanded the issuance of Form 47 for their candidates from their respective constituencies. JI and PTI also protested, accusing rigging and condemning ECP’s role. Traffic disruptions occurred, and leaders vowed further demonstrations until their demands were met. Claims of ballot stuffing and biased officials were made, with threats of legal challenges. Karachi, Umerkot, Nawabshah, Sukkur, and Jacobabad witnessed demonstrations, denouncing what they termed as stolen mandates. Leaders criticized the election process and vowed to intensify protests if justice wasn't served, targeting both ruling and opposition parties. (“JUI-F holds Sindh-wide protests against ‘stealing of public mandate’,” Dawn, 12 February 2024)
PTI and JI hold sit-in protests in front of ECP headquarters
On 11 February, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) promised to keep fighting for their ‘stolen’ constituencies in Karachi and carried on with their rallies against ‘rigging’ of the general elections scheduled for 8 February. A day after staging a combined protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Sindh headquarters, the parties once again organized separate protests. While the PTI persisted in its protest outside the ECP provincial offices, the JI opted to hold sit-ins at eight separate strategic locations throughout the city. In their speeches, the party leaders pledged to keep up the fight and use all available legal and constitutional means to recover their ‘stolen’ mandate. The JI chief for Karachi Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, stated that while the JI and independent candidates won the majority of votes in all of the city’s national and provincial assembly constituencies, Karachi was being forced to accept the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) by stealing the people’s true mandate. He said: “The entire exercise cost the national exchequer PKR48 billion. What is the purpose of such an expensive exercise if the ECP had to announce results at its own will?” On the other side, PTI workers shouted slogans against ECP seeking justice for the independent candidates. PTI’s Karachi division president Khurram Sher Zaman said: “I appeal you to stay peaceful and don’t get provoked because there’s a conspiracy to put you against our law enforcement agencies and create a law and order situation.” (Imran Ayub, “PTI, Jamaat protests continue in Karachi against ‘rigging’ in elections,” Dawn, 12 February 2024)
Election results have created a host of uncertainties argues an opinion in Dawn
On 12 February, an opinion in Dawn by Maleeha Lodhi titled, “Post-election challenges,” states that despite an inadequate campaign, more people than expected turned out to vote, demonstrating their commitment to democracy and their belief that their vote counted. However, after the results were announced, it became evident that this narrative had ignored electoral dynamics and popular sentiment on the ground. According to Lodhi, the Pakistani Election Commission did not bask in the glory of its mysterious slowness in releasing the results of the election. She further stated that the excessive delay provoked harsh criticism and accusations of collusion, even though the organization maintained that it had implemented a better mechanism for results announcement. Disruptions to the Internet and mobile networks fueled the uproar and were duly criticized by the caretaker administration and ECP, she added. In her opinion piece, Lodhi added that a hung parliament and a divided mandate were delivered by voters which means that the government formation would prove to be “an imposing task, which will involve tough and protracted bargaining and political horse-trading.” She also argues that whoever forms the government will have several daunting challenges to deal with- the inflationary pressures in the economy and negotiating another deal with the IMF, numerically strong opposition the National Assembly and “the regionalized nature of the election result in the provincial assemblies.” Another challenge would be that “The next government will also have to deal with the challenge of establishing smooth and stable relations with the military which in recent years has acquired a much larger role in politics and governance, even in economic and investment matters.” (Maleeha Lodhi, “Post-election challenges,” Dawn, 12 February 2024)
Voters must receive answers for election irregularities argues an editorial in Dawn
On 12 February, an editorial in Dawn titled, “Glaring irregularities,” states that preliminary talks behind closed doors have begun concerning potential power arrangements, and there will be many who are keen to end the election chapter and consider the outcome as settled. But the populace, many of whom overcame a protracted campaign of intimidation and numerous obstacles to cast a ballot, does not appear to be in the mood to accept defeat. It is a valid argument not to. According to the editorial, voters should be provided with explanations for the major anomalies in this election, and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should act quickly to allay their worries. The biggest problem, as indicated by the stark differences between the reported results, appears to be the outright theft of the public mandate in several regions of the nation, the editorial added. The editorial further states that there were concerns about the reasons behind some of the ECP's declared results differing so much from the candidates’ official personal tallies and the unofficial parallel counts that TV channels maintain through their independent sources. According to the editorial, the evident irregularities in the Form 47s obtained by Returning Officers (RO) for specific constituencies and the abnormally lengthy period it has taken to ‘finalize’ the results have only served to confirm the suspicions of the observers. (“Glaring irregularities,” Dawn, 12 February 2024)
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“PTI workers are confronting the army officers who've taken over RO's office for rigging. Will PakistanArmy fight its own people for Nawaz, Maryam & Zardari? Will they risk their lives for the sake of Pakistan's enemies?”
-Abdul Rehman Tiwana
“For Pakistan's establishment, Imran Khan is guilty of an unforgiveable crime; he was going to win elections with the full and genuine backing of millions of Pakistanis.”
-Sami Hamdi
“Politics in Pakistan is very much unpredictable, those challenged to knock out some are leaving the political canvas.”
-Seshan Ali Khan
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Ishtiaq Ali Mehkri, ‘Sanctity of ballot lost in the dark of February 8’
The Express Tribune, 12 February 2024
“We will never learn from history, perhaps. The midnight robbery on the night of February 8, wherein the verdict of the masses was once again stolen will surely prove to be detrimental to national interests in the long run. It has hurt the nation beyond repair. Those who had the audacity to do this never felt ashamed even after victimising, harassing and intimidating a wide section of political populace, who still feel like aligning themselves with the PTI vote bank despite all odds that came their way. Apart from pre-poll institutional rigging like denial of symbol of ‘cricket bat’ to the most popular political party; disenfranchising by compelling them to contest as Independent candidates on a plethora of divergent symbols; obstructing their right to contest by disqualifying the candidature of many stalwarts; and, last but not least, suspending cellular and Internet services on the ballot day, the irony is that the massive vote cast in favour of PTI-backed Independent candidates was stolen. This is unbecoming even of any ‘managed democracy’, and is a blot on the system in vogue.The least who should be held accountable is the Chief Election Commissioner. He must step down, and stand a trial for torpedoing the Constitution, and engineering the verdict of the electorate to serve vested interests of the few. He, and his machinery, arm-twisted the fundamental rights of the people by delaying elections for a year, and doing all they could to penalise a political party. Likewise, his shenanigans on the night of February 8 by obstructing the announcement of results have ruined his credibility beyond doubt. It’s high time, moreover, to disband the sitting Election Commission which has lost its writ. A better digital, secure and efficient way of conducting the elections must be discovered, as in vogue in many other pluralistic democracies.”
Muhammad Mustafa Arif, ‘Saving the electoral process’
The News International, 12 February 2024
The election process, which represents the people's collective voice and will, is the cornerstone of democracy. It stands for the essential idea that every person has the right to influence how their community is governed.Elections that are free, fair, and transparent allow voters to voice their opinions, choose representatives, and hold those in authority responsible. In anticipation of the new year in 2024, Pakistan stood at the threshold of a significant milestone: the opportunity to shape its governance through democratic elections. After a period of anticipation, the Supreme Court of Pakistan set the date for the elections as the 8th of February, a moment eagerly awaited by the nation. The elections symbolized more than just a routine political event; this was an opportunity to chart the course of the nation’s future. Among the myriad of choices, the call for “haqeeqi azadi” resonated deeply with many Pakistanis, finding expression through the support of Imran Khan and his vision. As election day approached, the nation brimmed with anticipation, with citizens eagerly preparing to cast their votes and participate in the democratic process. It was a testament to the enduring commitment of the Pakistani people to democracy and their unwavering belief in the power of their voices to shape the course of their nation. Regrettably, events preceding the elections and unfolding during the results announcement have cast a shadow of doubt on the legitimacy of the entire electoral process. In the lead-up to the elections, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), one of the nation's prominent political parties, faced significant challenges, including the denial of its iconic bat symbol by the Election Commission (ECP), a decision that was upheld by the Supreme Court upon appeal. This decision, occurring in a country with an estimated 62 per cent illiteracy rate, raised suspicions of attempts to sow confusion among voters and potentially hinder the PTI's electoral success.”
Dr Muhammad Imran, ‘What is Pakistan’s urban future?’
The News International, 12 February 2024
“The 2024 general election was unique in the sense that the manifestos of the major political parties (PML-N, PPP and PTI) recognized the importance of urban planning for promoting sustainable development in Pakistan. It is interesting that their manifestos promised similar institutional structures, policies and regulations, and even projects.The PML-N, PPP and PTI promised to transform and empower the local government, which is a foundation of urban planning. They have promised to establish the local governments' financial autonomy and administrative capacity and develop it as “the third tier of government”.The PML-N manifesto even promised to merge development authorities and companies into an integrated city government responsible for transport, housing, the environment and disaster management. As an urban planning academic, I welcome these promises. We know that New York, London, Paris, and others would not appear on the global prosperity and liveability scales if they had not developed fully functioning local government systems. The PML-N, PPP and PTI promise to prepare national and local climate change plans that guide cities’ Master Plans to strengthen urban planning, and to develop a comprehensive regulatory framework that addresses environmental degradation, and outlines emission targets, reporting requirements, and penalties for non-compliance.”
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“Pakistan has voted for democracy but healing and reconciliation are needed for stability.”
- An opinion in Dawn, ‘Post-election challenges.’
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