Pakistan Poll Results Stun Army
By
RANA BANERJI
The
result is a big blow to the military establishment, revealing the limits of
'political engineering'.
It
reflected the anger of the electorate, especially its younger voters, who have
spoken decisively against the persistent harassment and victimisation of Imran
Khan's political party, asserts Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at
RA&W.
----
IMAGE:
Nawaz Sharif' supporters cheer as they gather at the Pakistan Muslim League
(Nawaz) party office at Model Town in Lahore, February 9, 2024. Photograph:
Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters
----
In a
completely unexpected result in the February 8 general elections, Pakistan
Tehrik e Insaf (PTI) backed Independents won 99 seats, of the 248 results declared
so far (out of 265).
The
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalled at 71 seats while the Peoples
Party of Pakistan could win 53 seats, mostly from Sindh.
The
Mohajir Quami Movement (Pakistan) won 15 seats in Karachi.
----
IMAGE:
Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) cheer, but the party suffered an unexpected
reverse in the country's general election. Photograph: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters
------
In the
provincial assemblies, PTI backed Independents emerged in a landslide in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa (KP), winning 90 seats out of 113.
In
Punjab, there was a neck to neck race between PTI backed Independents and the
PML (N), with the latter ultimately reaching a majority in the 361 member
House.
The
Sharif family scions were able to win their seats from Lahore, both in the
national assembly and Punjab assembly, other party stalwarts like Rana
Sanaullah, Khurram Dastgir, Khwaja Saad Rafique have been defeated.
In
Sindh, the Peoples Party of Pakistan won a majority again, with little
opposition in the rural areas.
Balochistan
has again seen a fractured mandate, with the Peoples Party of Pakistan winning
9 seats, the PML (N) 8 and the Jamiat ul Ulema -e-Islam (JuI-Fazlur Rehman) a
few seats.
Baloch
nationalist parties did not do so well.
-----
IMAGE:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters chant slogans outside the provincial
election commission office in Karachi, Pakistan February 9, 2024, demanding
free and fair results. Photograph: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters
----
Breakaway
faction leaders from Imran Khan's PTI like Jehangir Tareen of the Ishteqam
Party (IPP) and Pervez Khattak of the PTI (Parliamentarians) lost badly, though
Aleem Khan and Aun Chaudhry could win national assembly seats.
The
polling could be held smoothly enough despite sporadic violence in areas
bordering Afghanistan.
The
interior ministry reported 61 attacks nationwide, with 16 killed including 10
security personnel, justifying temporary suspension of cellular phone services
and Internet on this account.
There
were unprecedented delays in the declaration of results.
The
Election Management System, devised by the Election Commission of Pakistan
(ECP_, failed to function late on February 8 night, even as electronic media
channels in Pakistan started releasing the trends obtained unofficially from
polling, presiding and returning officers.
Several
returning officers were replaced at the ECP's behest, leading to allegations of
rigged outcomes.
----
IMAGE:
Army personnel stationed near a polling station in Lahore, February 8, 2024,
the day of the general election. Photograph: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters
-------
This
result is a big blow to the military establishment, revealing the limits of
'political engineering', though enabling credibility of a fair and free poll.
It
reflected the anger of the electorate, especially its younger voters, who have
spoken decisively against the persistent harassment and victimisation of the
PTI.
After
a day's delay, an Inter Services Public Relations press release conveyed the
army chief's felicitations to the people of Pakistan and administrative
functionaries for conducting a free and fair poll in difficult circumstances.
He
called for 'stable hands' and 'a healing touch' at this juncture, as it was
important to 'move on from the politics of anarchy and polarisation'.
-----
IMAGE:
Nawaz Sharif speaks, flanked by his daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif and his
brother Shehbaz Sharif, at the Pakistan Muslim League (N) party office at Model
Town in Lahore, February 9, 2024. Photograph: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters
-----
Nevertheless,
the army is unlikely to retreat from its controlling role in domestic politics.
Efforts were initiated to determine who will become the prime minister.
In a
speech in Lahore on February 9 evening, Nawaz Sharif said he respected the
mandate given to all political parties, even independent candidates, and
suggested that a ten year period of stability was needed, as a collective
effort to take the country out of the current quagmire.
As
last reports came in, PML (N) leaders met the PPP's Asif Zardari in Lahore.
They have now been summoned to Islamabad for last minute efforts to cobble
together a coalition which could work toward a majority in the 'hung' national
assembly.
With
the smaller parties like the MQM (P), JuI (F), PML (Q) and IPP coming on board,
the numbers could reach 134. Some Independents may still be pressurised to
desert the PTI.
However,
the PTI claims a majority of its own and there is talk of joining a smaller
registered political party like the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), a Shia
party pledged to work for Shia-Sunni unity in Pakistan, led by Allama Raja
Nasir Abbas, which won two seats in the national assembly. This may help it
claim a share of the 70 reserved seats for women and minorities.
-----
IMAGE:
Supporters of Imran Khan's party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, protest outside
a temporary election commission office in Peshawar, February 9, 2024, demanding
free and fair results. Photograph: Fayaz Aziz/Reuters
-----
The
election verdict does not mean that Imran Khan would be coming out of jail any
time soon, though recent judgments against him will be challenged in the higher
courts.
It
does establish though, that despite his incarceration since the last six months
and more, Imran has been able to decisively hit back in his political
contestation against the military establishment.
Whether
this presages an end to the intensely bitter environs of feuding, name-calling
against Opposition leaders and heads of institutions and heralds a more
pragmatic move on his part towards reconciliation, remains to be seen.
---------
IMAGE:
A billboard featuring Pakistan Peoples Party politician Bilawal Bhutto and his
sister Asifa Bhutto in Karachi, February 9, 2024. Photograph: Akhtar
Soomro/Reuters
----------
After
a new government is formed, civil military relations will remain fractious. The
civilian prime minister will be heading a weak, tenuous, coalition.
When
the Special Investment Facilitation Council (was set up by the previous
coalition government, army chief General Syed Asim Munir was allowed to have a
decisive say in its handling.
Differences
may arise now on handling of economic policy and over appointment of the
finance minister, especially if Nawaz Sharif wants to entrust it again to Ishaq
Dar. Instead, Ahsan Iqbal's name is emerging as a more acceptable candidate.
If the
PPP joins a coalition led by PML (N) again, it may demand a greater share in
power. Bilawal Bhutto's recent hostile stance may or may not deter aspirations
to claim the foreign ministry again.
The
MQM (P) will also have to be accommodated though its demand for a greater role
in Karachi's urban regeneration will pose a red rag to the PPP.
The
present director general, ISI, Lieutenant General Nadeem Anjum is on an
open-ended extension. Munir will have to decide whether he can be replaced now.
The
civilian prime minister is unlikely to have a say in this appointment.
Whether
Munir now feels secure enough to effect the long delayed re-shuffle to post out
senior lieutenant generals of the 80th Pakistan Military Academy long course,
who have been cooling their heels in staff assignments at GHQ, to aspired for
corps commands will also be watched with interest.
https://www.rediff.com/news/column/pakistan-poll-results-stuns-army/20240210.htm
--------
URL:
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism