Welcome to the chaotic circus of upcoming elections in Pakistan! Imagine that the ringmaster is the Pak Army, the showstopper is ousted Imran Khan and the spectators are the irritated nation. Don’t think that this is an analogy, this is a very real entertainment that unfolds in the upcoming general election 2024. This election is just like a high-stakes drama on a stage where the future of a country’s democracy delicately hangs in between. Can the impotent democracy of Pakistan resist this circus of rigging and resilience? Or will the flames of opposition, fueled by Khan’s abiding popularity, immerse the nation’s struggle for a representative future.?
So buckle up readers, this exciting trip will have twists and turns between political action, voter suppression, and the power of survival of public opinion.
Khan’s Crumbling Fall
The time is not going well for Khan, the cricketer-turned-politician. After kicking out as Prime Minister in 2022, he found himself in a problematic position. After being dethroned from the position, he is bombarded with various accusations which leads him to the cramped prison cell, just like the size of a shoe box. The authorities didn’t just stop there, Khan’s got banned on his party’s iconic logo of cricket bat. Yes, you read it right! Why all this hate and harsh treatment? Because the leader has immense popularity among nations and is a threat to the military’s establishment that conventionally calls the shots.
Imran Khan Hit With New Sentence
The arrest of Khan didn’t affect the nation and they didn’t slow down their love and respect for the leader, this caused a fuss between the authorities. So after being harshly treated in jail for about 8 months, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and his wife have been sentenced to 14 years in jail in a Cipher case. They also became ineligible to contest for political services for 10 years. Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the loyal political leader, was also sentenced to 10 years in jail.
As Samina Yasmeen, director of the Centre for Muslim States and Societies rightly says, “Elections are being held, but I’ve got serious doubts whether real democracy or democratic principles are being followed.” The goal? To kick out Imran Khan and keep his party out of power at all costs.
Enter the Sharif Saga
Here comes back to the picture, Nawaz Sharif, Khan’s arch-rival and another three-time Prime Minister. Allegations of Corruption? Reversed. Banned for lifetime political services? Overturned. He returns to Pakistan as a healthy and free man. Guess who is behind all these strategies and his comeback? Oh yeah! You guessed it right! The same military that ousted him three times before. This military action highlights the intricate and conflicting nature of Pakistani politics.
The director of South Asia Institute, Michael Kugelman remarks, “ From a Washington perspective, anyone would be better than Khan.” He further added that “ a lot of bad blood between the military and Nawaz,”.
Democracy in Pakistani Style
Here’s the twist: despite the shameless manipulation of electoral boundaries, the enormous arrest of the party’s supporters, and even the banning of the bat symbol, Khan’s popularity continues to rise and shine. He still enjoys 57% approval ratings from the poll which means that no matter where the leader was, whether he was locked up or eligible from the party, people still loved him and supported his party. Raoof Hassan, principal spokesman of PTI declares that “ The election symbol is an integral component of fair elections. It’s rendering the party toothless.”
Aleema who is Khan’s sister further warns “ The temperature is going to rise in the next few weeks when candidates step out to do rallies. There’s going to be anger on the streets.” So, the message is clear: The people of Pakistan want guarantees for their future by saying such things, and the heavy tactics by the establishment are backlashing.
International Ovation, Muted
There is a curiosity in everyone’s mind. Where are the international communities in all this matter? Surprisingly they remain silent and quietly applauding and seeing Pakistan’s electoral irregularities. Especially the U.S. with its championing democracy, sit back and have large content on Pakistan’s establishment to play its game. But what’s the reason for the silence? Why? According to them, anyone could be better except Khan, who shined up to Russia and China, making him less acceptable than the “business-friendly and pro-America” Sharif. As Kugleman add “ Sharif has a better record on both.”( counterterrorism and relationship with India)
But we all know that Pakistan is not a piece of cake. We are not something that can easily be ignored.
What’s the End game of General Election 2024?
The future of Pakistan is hanging in between balance. Maybe Sharif wins and his party might bring temporary stability but his rocky relationship with the military is similar to the Jenga tower in a hurricane. Imran Khan might stay as popular as before even though he remains in the cell, keeping the flames of resistance twinkling. As Hassan announced, “ We shall be in the election. We are not going to back off, we are not going to walk away, we’re not going to forfeit even a single seat throughout the country.”
But all these things could explode with a fascinating display of Pakistan’s democracy because of the intense protests, violence, and even the nation’s coups.
In Conclusion
Pakistan’s general election 2024 is more than a political contest, it’s a conflict for the nation’s soul. The battle for fair and clear democracy! The people of Pakistan still raised their voices for hope in the future and fueled their resilience. Whether Sharif got victory or Khan led to the new chapter, one thing is certain: this is our Pakistan, the land where you might be down but never truly come out. We as a nation are still living here, keep watching, keep fighting, and keep hoping that there will be one day when people’s voices should matter.
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