The approaching general elections in Pakistan are causing concerns about potential manipulation, as state authorities have been accused of cracking down on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its leader, Imran Khan. Many of the party’s candidates have had their nomination papers rejected, leading some to believe that the election may not be fair.
Historically, elections in Pakistan have been tainted to various degrees, with the 1990 vote being openly described as rigged by the Pakistan Supreme Court in 2012. More recently, the 2018 elections were marred by controversy, with international bodies questioning their fairness and transparency.
There are also concerns that the powerful military establishment is influencing the outcome of the upcoming elections. Many analysts suspect that the military is backing Nawaz Sharif, a former prime minister who returned to Pakistan in November 2023. Some believe that the military is manipulating the pre-election period to influence the outcome, as it has become more challenging to interfere with the voting process itself.
Critics argue that the current political environment is farcical and that political parties need to hold themselves accountable. They believe that parties are more focused on advancing their own goals rather than strengthening democracy, leading to a zero-sum game in Pakistani politics. Despite these challenges, some analysts believe that there is a deeper political and social shift underway in Pakistan as the country approaches the 2024 elections.