If it is too early to deduce a definitive political trend from the provisional results of the elections of Sunday 21 additional ballots Held so soon after the February 8 general elections, this exercise once again highlighted the need for the state – particularly the ECP and the administration – to work towards improving the credibility of the electoral process .
Five National Assembly seats were up for grabs, while the rest of the elections were for provincial legislatures, including 12 for Punjab Assembly constituencies. Just as allegations of fraud and irregularities had marred the February 8 polls, similar accusations were made in a number of constituencies during the by-polls, most of which were won by PML-N candidates.
An example was the ‘confession” from a presiding officer of a polling station in Lahore. The PTI may have exaggerated these claims, but independent observers also felt that all was not well at many polling stations in Punjab. The ECP has “become aware” of the apparent electoral malpractices and requested a report. violence was reported in Narowal, leading to the death of a man near a polling station.
While the bypolls should have been a simple process, this was not the case. Clearly, the lessons of the February 8 elections, as well as previous fiascos like that of the Daska by-election 2021, have not been learned. Unless Pakistan’s elections are transparent – and seen to be transparent – the country’s democratic progress will remain slow.
The primary responsibility for ensuring this transparency lies with the ECP; other members of government, state and bureaucracy also have a duty to promote electoral integrity. Unless the culture of violence and rigging is eradicated, so that voting is the sole determinant and source of political power, the credibility of the electoral process in Pakistan will continue to remain obscured.
By-elections in Pakistan have generally generated little interest among voters, who often tend to vote in favor of the party already in the saddle. According to the provisional results, the PML-N secured two seats in the NA, while winning 10 provincial constituencies in Punjab. Many of these were seats that N-League candidates had already won on February 8.
Rather than reflecting a grand triumph of the N-League narrative, as its leaders claim, the results are instead an indication that voters want to maintain the status quo at this point in the electoral cycle.
However, it is difficult to ignore the faked claims, who also dominated the February 8 polls. They indicate that the electoral victory is not as clear as the ruling party claims. There is plenty of time left until the 2029 elections. This period should be used by all stakeholders to ensure that the next elections are free from controversy.
Published in Dawn, April 23, 2024
