IRIA News

As the polling started in Pakistan on February 8, 2024, the authorities suspended mobile calls and data while millions voted for a new government. The controversial elections ended with no evident victory by any of the running parties.

The election came almost two years after the previous prime minister Imran Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote from the parliament. The political turmoil that arose after the fall of Imran Khan’s government is still shaking the political landscape of Pakistan.

The tables have turned for the former prime minister Imran Khan as he found himself in jail for at least 31 years after being convicted guilty in three court cases. At the same time his party, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (Pakistan Justice Movement) was blacklisted from contesting the elections following a separate court case.

Independent candidates backed by imprisoned Imran Khan took an early lead in the vote tally, demonstrating unexpectedly strong performance. This comes despite claims from Khan’s supporters and a national human rights organization suggesting that the voting process was manipulated to favor Nawaz Sharif.

Pakistan’s three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif was declared the favorite candidate by the establishment of the country to form the government for the fourth time as his party has grown closer to the establishment and bureaucracy, which has a strong influence on government formation and the electoral process.

Least credible elections

Many analysts say this is among Pakistan’s least credible elections following several incidents of electoral irregularities. The interior ministry and relevant authorities cited the security situation and threats of terrorism as the reason for the suspension of mobile phone services during the election day, however, the political leaders in Pakistan protested the move declaring it as a blatant violation against the authenticity of the electoral process.

The shutdown was also criticized by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, son of murdered ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and the chairman of Pakistan’s third-largest political party. Bilawal called for services to be restored “immediately”.

Justifying the move, an Interior Ministry spokesman said, “As a result of the recent incidents of terrorism in the country, precious lives have been lost. Security measures are essential to maintain law and order situation and to deal with potential threats.

Polling experts were already forecasting a low turnout. The suspension of mobile phone service and blockade of the internet made it harder for voters to find their polling stations.

Independent candidates take the lead

Candidates from Imran Khan’s party were forced to contest the elections in an independent capacity following their prohibition from utilizing the party symbol, a cricket bat. Party symbols are a unified sign used by the candidates contesting elections from a party, largely used to aid illiterate voters in locating their desired candidates on the ballot paper.

With a unified symbol taken away, Imran Khan’s backed candidates had to make extra efforts to ensure that voters remembered their assigned electoral symbol.

Despite these challenges, candidates supported by Khan’s PTI secured 100 seats in Pakistan’s 266-seat parliament. Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League party obtained 73 seats becoming the second-largest political party in the parliament. With several other parties in the mix, no one could declare a clear majority to form a government on their own.

Coalition government

Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) leader Sharif acknowledged the situation as he told his support in his post-election speech, “We don’t have enough of a majority to form a government without the support of others and we invite allies to join the coalition so we can make joint efforts to pull Pakistan out of its problems.”

Sharif is most likely to form a coalition with the third largest political power in the parliament, Bilawal Bhutto’s PPP, which has 52 seats in the parliament. “We will have to sit together to settle all matters,” Sharif said in his speech.

Despite criticism from his rivals, including Bhutto-Zardari, during the campaign, Sharif’s coalition aspirations seem directed at maintaining Khan’s imprisonment and preventing the PTI from political involvement.

World reaction

The suspension of mobile phone services and pre-election security concerns in Pakistan also attained attention from international stakeholders. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department Matthew Miller remarked that the elections witnessed unjust limitations on freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.

“We denounce electoral violence, constraints on the exercise of human rights and basic freedoms, such as assaults on media personnel, and limitations on Internet and telecommunication access. We are troubled by allegations of interference in the electoral process,” Miller stated.

The European Union also expressed regret over the absence of a fair playing field, attributing it to the incapacity of certain political entities to participate in the elections.