The Government of Pakistan stated that: suspended cellphone services nationwide through election day It started this Thursday and on what date? Approximately 240 million Pakistanis were called to the polls.
A spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that the decision was taken “as a result of recent terrorist incidents in the country.” “Valuable lives have been lost, security measures are essential to maintain law and order and deal with possible threats,” he said via social network X, formerly known as Twitter. said. Islamabad Police stated that security services at polling stations “will remain vigilant”. Approximately 3,500 Army members, as well as 6,500 police officers, also moved to the capital.
The day before, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs made a statement. Temporary closure of border crossings with Iran and Afghanistan To guarantee security during the general elections, amid complaints of an increase in security incidents and new intervention by the Army in the process.
Actually, This Wednesday, two attacks took place in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.Against the offices of political parties and independent candidates in the west of the country at least 28 dead.
Argument
It left its mark on the last few weeks Penalties given to PTI leaderThere were two cases against former Prime Minister Imran Jan for corruption and leaking of a secret document, as well as cases related to the repatriation of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after he was disqualified for life following the sentence imposed on him in 2018.
The elections followed a postponement that was due to be held in November and after Jan, the 2018 winner, was removed from office by a vote of no confidence in Parliament in April 2022. After making sure you are aware Allegation that Washington conspired to remove him from office. Jan attempted to block the vote by dissolving the National Assembly, a decision the Supreme Court annulled.
The dismissal of Khan, who achieved his election victory with the support of the Army and complaints from Sharif’s party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), about the military leadership’s effort to remove the former prime minister from power. It came after numerous demonstrations for and against the star. Sharif himself was removed from power by a decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2017; No prime minister has ever been able to complete his term; This is attributed to the enormous influence of the Armed Forces of the nuclear-armed country.
On this occasion, the vote will take place in the midst of what PTI (Pakistan Movement for Justice) has condemned. Political and judicial campaign against Jan Following a series of cases against him following his dismissal, which also led to convictions against other former senior officials of his Government.
Jan himself stated last week that these sentences – ten to fourteen years in prison for leaking the diplomatic cable and corruption, added to a previous sentence for corruption and another sentence for violating the marriage rule set at the weekend – were part of a deal. “political persecution”Before emphasizing that elections are the “most powerful weapon” to “remove criminals from power”.
The opposition party appealed to its followers for calm and demanded that their protest be taken to the polls, not the streets, despite the death of four people in an explosion during a rally in Balochistan. He also condemned actions such as banning the use of party symbols, cricket bats and contesting under voter ID after the court ruled that the election of its new leader was unconstitutional.
In fact, the United Nations Human Rights Office stated on Tuesday: Concern over the “pattern of harassment, arrest and prolonged detention” of PTI members and called on authorities to guarantee respect for an “inclusive” “democratic process”.
Sharif’s return
Sheriff appears as main favorite In a fragmented political environment, Pakistan is heading to the polls with an unelected interim government that replaced a coalition led by the PLM-N but consisting of a number of opposition parties, formed after the motion against Khan. then Prime Minister. The experienced politician, who served as prime minister three times, is facing a completely different situation compared to 2018, when he could not run as a candidate because he was in prison following the corruption scandal.
On this occasion, after he returned to the country following a temporary medical leave from which he did not return in time, and the courts annulled the conviction against him, paving the way for his candidacy – which his critics attribute to the fact that the coalition government was headed by his brother Shehbaz Sharif. He goes to the polls with his biggest rival in prison.
While Sharif appears to have softened his differences with the military leadership, he has so far failed to complete any of his terms in office, including being ousted in a 1999 military coup led by Pervez Musharraf, who died in exile in February 2023. United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Other prominent names in the elections include Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, son of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated in 2007, and former President Asif Ali Zardari. The 35-year-old politician serves as Foreign Minister in the coalition administration and is keen to play a key role in a potential coalition, although he is unlikely to win.
Insecurity and economic crisis
The elections are an important development for the future of the country shaken by a crisis. Increase in attacks and insecurity due to attacks on the Afghanistan border by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), known as the Pakistani Taliban, and by Baloch separatist groups in the western part of the country.
The situation on the border with Afghanistan, which has been ruled by the Taliban since August 2021, has led to increased tensions and even led Islamabad to threaten to launch a cross-border operation if the fundamentalists do not take action against the TTP. Although the differences led to clashes at the border and the deportation of nearly half a million Afghan refugees, Kabul responded to the attacks by distancing itself and taking action to reduce insecurity.
Likewise, attacks have increased in Balochistan. It even caused tensions Iranian following mutual bombings – initiated by Tehran – against Baloch separatist groups operating on both sides of the border. Although doubts remain, both countries agreed to strengthen cooperation and praised “brotherly” ties. All this has led to 2023 being the country with the most deaths due to terrorism since 2016, with more than 1,500 deaths, according to data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal. In fact, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) has confirmed that “at least 24 incidents” of politicians to date have been shootings.
Moreover, The country is facing a major economic crisis The already fragile situation has further deepened in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, with the rupee falling to historic lows and the rise in inflation causing prices of essential commodities, fuel and medicines to skyrocket.
The World Bank states that the country has “accumulated economic imbalances”, partly caused by internal and external economic ‘shocks’, the exchange rate, the increase in international prices of basic products, floods recorded in 2023 and “political uncertainty”. That’s why Farzana Shaikh, a partner in Chatham House’s Asia-Pacific Program, recently noted that the country “faces formidable economic and political challenges” and argued that “there is little opportunity to overcome them without a credible outcome in the elections.” “. “At the moment it looks like elections will not be free or fair. “Given the volatile conditions, civil unrest cannot be ruled out.”