Daily Times

Election buzz is fast reaching fever pitch here in Pakistan. At least in terms of the numbers’ game. Towards this end, three separate polls have been conducted: Gallup Pakistan (national); Pulse Consultant (national); and the Institute of Public Opinion Research (IPOR) (Punjab). All three published their respective findings this week.

The consensus appears, broadly speaking, to go something like this. The PTI, having enjoyed its first term in office in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), looks all set to make a return there. Similarly, the PPP is poised to maintain the status quo in Sindh. Balochistan is the only province where all bets are off. Suggesting that the fragmentation in the lead-up to and aftermath of the no-confidence motion against the PMLN chief minister back in January remains.

Of course, the Punjab represents the real battle. As things currently stand, the PMLN still stands strong there. Though Imran Khan is hot on its heels for control of the province that has traditionally been in the Sharif bag. This is important for several reasons; even while keeping in mind that these polls were conducted before any of the political players had launched manifestos.

That Nawaz Sharif’s party is managing to hang on to its long-established power base vindicates somewhat the deposed Prime Minister’s over oft-repeated claims that — despite the machinations against he and all his men — the people stand with the PMLN. That being said, however, considerable PTI gains cannot be overlooked.

All of which presents a paradoxical dynamic of sorts. Not least because Imran has spent the best part of the last five years trying to oust Nawaz on charges of plundering the national exchequer. Yet it appears that in the Punjab the electorate is divided about whether an anti-corruption drive should take precedence over a pro-infrastructure agenda.

Both the PMLN and PTI are considered to be largely right-wing. Which may well explain the narrowing gap between the two. What this might mean for Kaptaan’s promise of a Naya Pakistan remains to be seen. And while the latter is well-respected, and deservedly so, for his non-political philanthropy and his thus far clean record on corruption — it must be pointed out there are many ways to skin a cat. Unfortunately.

There has long been talk of a hidden force thrusting the PTI centre stage. This comes not just from the PMLN camp but increasingly, too, from the PPP. At the very least this should serve as a cautionary tale for Imran. Given that Nawaz himself was once the recipient of such largesse. Before, that is, he bit the hand that feeds. But while it would be easy to conclude that the PMLN supremo is now paying the price for his defiance, it nevertheless raises grave concerns of how politics in Pakistan continues to be a dirty game. The citizenry surely deserves better than electoral manipulation. For the right to directly elect representatives is a constitutionally protected one. Even if the politicans are too consumed by power games to remember their vital role as democray’s custodians. In fact, the collective record on this front has been severely lacking.

Thus as Pakistan continues celebrating 10 years of uninterrupted democracy, it cannot afford to lose sight of the fact that this paradigm must always name the process by which it comes into being. And this means calling out anti-democratic practices regardless of who the beneficiary is. Otherwise, the original sin remains. Even if the apple rests unbitten in the palm.  *

Published in Daily Times, July 6^th 2018.