Widely known for its divisive political history, Pakistan is all set for its 11th General Elections since 1970, to be held on July 25. In only the second civilian transfer of power in 71- year history of the sixth-largest country of world, the polls will largely be a race between two main players. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will face off in what seems to be a choice between the plague and cholera. Data released by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) pegs the voter count at 105.9 million.
The country's powerful military has ruled it for almost half its existence. While the military no longer is in power, it has picked favourites among politicians to head the country. In the last general elections which were held on May 11, 2013, PML-N won the public mandate with an overwhelming majority, and Sharif was elected PM. Pakistan has four provinces- Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Over 105 million voters can cast their ballots for two seats in each constituency. One for the National Assembly and one for their Provincial Assembly. There are 272 directly elected and 70 reserved National Assembly seats up for grabs across the country. A party will need at least 137 of the directly elected seats to be able to form the government on its own.
PARTIES IN THE FRAY
Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)
Once the most popular party in Pakistan, the PML-N is led by thrice-elected former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's family. Opinion polls conducted by Gallup Pakistan and Pulse Consultant in October last year said the party and Nawaz were the most popular amid voters in the country. However, a lot has changed since October 2017. The party's luck now lies in the hands of Nawaz's brother Shehbaz Sharif as the Supreme Court has disqualified Sharif Sr from holding a public office in April this year. Part of the original Muslim League, the PML-N remains the largest surviving faction.
PML-N finds support from the politically important Punjab province, and with Shehbaz – a former chief minister of the state – at the helm, it enjoys a firm grasp on Punjab politics. However, the party is expected to face stiff competition from cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI).
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf
Expected to be the most important player in these elections alongside PML-N, PTI was launched in 1996 by the widely popular former cricketer. Today, it has come to the fore with a promise of change and reversing the status-quo in politics. It surfaced as a challenger to both PML-N and PPP at a time when Pakistan's troubled democracy followed a bi-partisan system.
The party failed to open its account in 1997 elections, was limited to just one seat won by Imran in 2002, and it boycotted the 2008 elections arguing that an elected parliament has little meaning under a president in military fatigue. The party hopes to garner support mainly on the anti-corruption plank, and on the promise to invest in education and healthcare. Imran promises to call in a “naya Pakistan” as he talks about equal rights for religious and ethnic minorities. Khan's PTI is a three way, centrist party, mainly because it opposes the liberal and left of PPP, and is slightly more religious and conservative than PML-N.
On India, Imran's stand has changed over time. As a cricketer, philanthropist and an early politician, he advocated engaging the moderate voices in two countries. However, recently he said that engagement with India was not possible under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Pakistan People's Party
Dominated by the influential Bhutto family, PPP is identified as a left-liberal party that rose to power in the 19709s through its vehement opposition to military rule. Its clout however fell significantly after the ouster of the then prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani in 2012 following corruption allegations. The party wields influence in Pakistan's Sindh province. It won the provincial elections in 2013, and also became the main Opposition party by winning 31 seats. PPP is currently commanded by Benazir Bhutto's widower and former Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari. However, their son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is being seen as the face of the party and its campaign.
The 29 year old heir apparent is known for his tough stance on the Kashmir conflict, and Pakistan's relation with India.
Milli Muslim League
A new entrant this year, Milli Muslim League is the political front of blacklisted Islamic organisation Jamat-ud Dawa, the charitable front of militant organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba. Founded last year with the intention to make Pak “a truly Islamic and welfare state”, the party's vision is stated as to make Pak's ideology in line with what Muhammad Ali Jinnah envisioned it to be. The party's electoral ambitions hit a roadblock when the US declared it a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) in April this year.
Awami National Party
Leftist, progressive party founded by Pashtun leader Abdul Wali Khan, son of freedom fighter Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Awami National Party has always been under attack by militants. The party came to power in 2008, but was ousted by Imran's PTI in 2013.
------------------------
Shaukat Warraich is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Imams Online – a network of mostly British imams. The following is some of his comments on Pakistan election.
179 killed in violence
At least 179 people have been killed in violence during campaigning in the country. This includes the recent attack in Mastung, which was the second deadliest terror attack in the country’s history where 149 people lost their lives.
This abhorrent attack was also the worst by Daesh (aka ISIS) in Pakistan, suggesting the desperation of its dwindling supporters following the group’s collapse in Syria and Iraq. The attack was a cruel reminder that Muslims are the principal victims of terrorism, while also being on the frontline of fighting it. Pakistanis already know from bitter experience that they face a long and collective struggle to completely defeat those in their country pursing a selfish and violent agenda, often dressed as a distorted version of Islam.
The election can be imperfect, yet still they are a truly vital opportunity for people to have a say in their future. As Pakistanis in their millions cast their votes, they defy the intentions of extremist groups like Daesh who seek to stamp out democracy and crush future hopes for the nation. I, along with many other British Pakistanis, will be watching this election, hopeful for our relatives’ freedom to vote and live peacefully. Tomorrow, millions of Pakistanis will go to the polls in the hope of a brighter tomorrow. Whatever the outcome, that’s the biggest rejection of extremism and violence there can be.
