Elections in Pakistan: a process without a product.

Outline:

1. Introduction

Thesis Statement:

Holding free and fair elections is a necessity of democracy in the world. Yet, elections in Pakistan

in the last seven decades have proved a futile exercise as none of the elections’ result has solved

the problems of the country.

2. A look at the parliamentary history of Pakistan:

3. Have elections really been a process without product in Pakistan?

3.1) Elections held in 2013 could not put Pakistan on the path to progress.

3.2) Elections of 2018 failed to address major challenges of Pakistan.

3.3) Most recently the elections of 2024 seem to disputed and without any product.

4. Reasons why elections in Pakistan have produced nothing?

4.1) The role of non-democratic forces hinders the real outcome of elections.

4.2) Polarisation in society is another reason in this regard.

4.3) Low literacy rate also plays a role in the failure of elections to produce results.

4.4) Absence of democracy within political parties is another reason.

4.5) Foreign interference is yet another cause of election being without outcomes.

4.6) Low turn out in elections also impedes the way of democratic growth in Pakistan.

5. Implications for Pakistan after futile exercise of elections:

5.1) Pakistan remains caught in a web of economic issues.

5.2) The pressing issues of terrorism has not been addressed in Pakistan

5.3) Pakistan’s democracy continues to decline in comparison to the world.

5.4) Rule of law remains weak in Pakistan.

6. The way forward for Pakistan:

6.1) The mechanism to reduce interference of military must be introduced.

6.2) Political parties must have democracy within their ranks.

6.3) Polarisation in society should be eliminated to improve election results.

7. Conclusion:
Ideas/Data:

• There have been 12 general elections in Pakistan since independence in 1947.

• Military has imposed martial laws several time.
• Pakistan has remained under direct military rule for more than 30 years.
• In remaining 40 years, military continued to play its role behind the doors.
• Total number of voters in Pakistan is more than 150 million.
• Literacy rate of Pakistan stands at 62%.
• Most major parties in Pakistan are dynamic in nature and less representative.
• Pakistan ranks 118 out of 167 states on the latest Democracy Index 2023. It has fallen back
from 107th spot. In 2023 it was ranked 3rd worst performer on the index. Moreover, it has been

placed under Authoritarian category, downgrade from Hybrid Regime type.

• No prime minister in Pakistan has ever completed their ve-year term.

Quotes:

1. The ballot is stronger than the bullet. (Abraham Lincoln)

2. A vote is like a ri e: its usefulness depends upon the character of the user.

(Theodore Roosevelt)

3. A man without a vote is a man without protection. (Lyndon B. Johnson)

4. One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by

your inferiors. (Plato)

Books:

1. Military and Politics in Pakistan, by Dr. Hasan Askari.

2. Crossed Swords, by Shuja Nawaz.

3. Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy and the West, by Benazir Bhutto.

4. Governing the Ungovernable, by Ishrat Husain.

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Further Sources:

1. https://na.gov.pk/en/content.php?id=75

2. https://www.dawn.com/news/1810869

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Pakistan

4. https://www.usip.org/publications/2024/02/understanding-pakistans-election-results

5. https://time.com/6693147/pakistan-election-results-imran-khan-pti-military/