The delayed process of electing representatives through ballots in Pakistan finally concluded on February 8, 2024 when the nation voted for 265 National Assembly constituencies and 590 representatives for all the four provinces. This significant event, yet another milestone in country’s democratic journey, reaffirms the active participation of citizens in shaping their governance. The election process, underlines the importance of democratic principles and civic engagement in fostering a vibrant political culture. The official results were not notified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) till the time of writing these lines.
Amidst a challenging backdrop, the electoral process unfolded with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), one of the largest political parties, voicing complaints. Allegations of unfair treatment surfaced particularly concerning irregularities in their intra-party elections, which resulted in the denial of their electoral symbol (cricket bat) and regarding restrictions on their ability to campaign freely. These obstacles underscore the complexities inherent in maintaining transparency and fairness in the electoral arena, emphasizing the importance of addressing such concerns.
As the election results gradually unfolded, a discernible trend emerged, suggesting a hung parliament at the center, with no single political party securing a simple majority at the national level. While the final results are pending, PTI has asserted its confidence in obtaining the necessary numbers to establish government at the center. Concurrently, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)—PMLN—has initiated dialogue with its intention to forge alliances with other political parties, including Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), to form a coalition government.
At the provincial level, the outlook is clearer: PPP is poised to assume power in Sindh, while PMLN is expected to form the government in Punjab. Similarly, PTI is to maintain its stronghold in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These developments underscore the intricate dynamics of coalition-building and governance, necessitating strategic alliances and negotiations to navigate the complexities of Pakistan’s political structure. As the nation awaits an outcome, the ensuing collaborations will shape the trajectory of governance and policy formulation in the coming term.
Yet again, akin to past electoral cycles, post-election is marred by controversy, with political parties alleging widespread rigging, in the aftermath of the voting phase. Apprehension surrounding electoral integrity was exacerbated by the ECP’s delayed announcement of official results. As in preceding elections, candidates will engage in court battles with numerous results likely to face challenges and legal scrutiny. These recurrent challenges emphasize persistent concerns regarding transparency and fairness of country’s electoral processes, prompting calls for systemic reforms to safeguard democratic principles and uphold the sanctity of the vote.
The latest election outcomes, up to the current date, have proved to be unexpectedly surprising, especially with the resurgence of PTI. Pre-election analyses had indicated a likelihood of PML or PPP securing significant advantages over other political entities, potentially enabling them to establish a government independently or with minimal support from other players.
However, the actual results have defied these projections, indicating a dynamic shift in the political arena, and emphasizing the unpredictable nature of electoral politics. This turn of events highlights the evolving dynamics of Pakistani politics, prompting a re-evaluation of preconceived notions and emphasizing the need for adaptability in interpreting electoral trends. It is disappointing to highlight that throughout the election campaigns, political parties offered little in terms of tangible commitments or offerings to their constituents. Instead, the discourse predominantly revolved around clichéd rhetoric and anecdotal narratives, lacking substantive proposals or concrete plans to uplift the social and economic conditions of the populace.
Unfortunately, the 2024 elections were not characterized by a robust contest of manifestos or commitments aimed at fostering societal progress. Rather, much of the campaign discourse centered on the exploitation of emotions and the denigration of opposing parties, detracting from substantive policy discussions. This trend emphasizes the need for a paradigm shift in electoral discourse, emphasizing substantive policy proposals and constructive dialogue to address the pressing issues facing the nation.
The pivotal factor that significantly influenced variance between initial projections and the outcome is the mobilization of the youth. Political parties that effectively engaged and communicated with this segment, aligning with contemporary global dynamics, reaped the greatest dividends. The commendable strategy employed by PTI in this regard warrants recognition, as it successfully capitalized on this demographic shift to its advantage. This highlights the evolving dynamics of political engagement and emphasizes the importance of adapting strategies to resonate with changing societal trends.
Political parties such as PMLN must acknowledge that their reliance on traditional methods of engagement is becoming increasingly obsolete. Mere performance and promise to build nice infrastructure and initiation of various projects will not attract the voters’ attention. Embracing modern mechanisms of communication is imperative to remain relevant in today’s political arena. It is essential for PMLN to actively engage with voters, to bridge the growing divide between them. As time progresses, their legacy supporters will naturally diminish, emphasizing the urgency for adaptation and evolution. Failure to evolve in tandem with societal shifts risks rendering them obsolete and disconnected from the electorate. Thus, it is imperative for them to adopt a forward-thinking approach and modernize their strategies to ensure continued relevance in contemporary politics.
Throughout this entire process, the people of Pakistan were anticipating a wave of relief following their votes for the formation of new government. However, the type of majority obtained by political parties in parliament and the projected makeup of the federal government, as discussed by political leaders, suggests that we may have a fragile government at the center. This government is likely to be torn between appeasing coalition partners and addressing public demands for relief, leading to challenges in decision-making. Moreover, such a government may lack the autonomy to formulate a coherent foreign policy at a time when our global relationships are strained. Additionally, given Pakistan’s participation in the IMF programme, which necessitates bold decisions, a government with divided priorities may struggle to implement necessary measures for good governance and fiscal discipline. Consequently, hardships faced by the people of Pakistan are unlikely to subside in the foreseeable future.
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Dr. Ikramul Haq, Advocate Supreme Court, specialises in constitutional, corporate, media and cyber laws, ML/CFT, IT, intellectual property, arbitration and international taxation. He holds LLD in tax laws with specialization in transfer pricing. He was full-time journalist from 1979 to 1984 with Viewpoint and Dawn. He served Civil Services of Pakistan from 1984 to 1996. He established Huzaima & Ikram in 1996 and is presently its chief partner.
He studied journalism, English literature and law. He is Chief Editor of Taxation. He is country editor and correspondent of International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation (IBFD) and member of International Fiscal Association (IFA). He is Visiting Faculty at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and member Advisory Board and Visiting Senior Fellow of Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE).
He has coauthored with Huzaima Bukhari many books that include Tax Reforms in Pakistan: Historic & Critical Review, Towards Flat, Low-rate, Broad and Predictable Taxes (revised & Expanded Edition, Pakistan: Enigma of Taxation, Towards Flat, Low-rate, Broad and Predictable Taxes (revised/enlarged edition of December 2020), Law & Practice of Income Tax, Law , Practice of Sales Tax, Law and Practice of Corporate Law, Law & Practice of Federal Excise, Law & Practice of Sales Tax on Services, Federal Tax Laws of Pakistan, Provincial Tax Laws, Practical Handbook of Income Tax, Tax Laws of Pakistan, Principles of Income Tax with Glossary and Master Tax Guide, Income Tax Digest 1886-2011 (with judicial analysis).
He is author of Commentary on Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreements, Pakistan: From Hash to Heroin, its sequel Pakistan: Drug-trap to Debt-trap and Practical Handbook of Income Tax. Two books of poetry are Phull Kikkaran De (Punjabi 2023) and Nai Ufaq (Urdu 1979 with Siraj Munir and Shahid Jamal). He regularly writes columns for many Pakistani newspapers and international journals and has contributed over 2500 articles on a variety of issues of public interest, printed in various journals, magazines and newspapers at home and abroad.
Twitter: DrIkramulHaq
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Abdul Rauf Shakoori, Advocate High Court, is a subject-matter expert on AML-CFT, Compliance, Cyber Crime and Risk Management. He has been providing AML-CFT advisory and training services to financial institutions (banks, DNFBPs, Investment companies, Money Service Businesses, insurance companies and securities), government institutions including law enforcement agencies located in North America (USA & CANADA), Middle East and Pakistan. His areas of expertise include legal, strategic planning, cross border transactions including but not limited to joint ventures (JVs), mergers & acquisitions (M&A), takeovers, privatizations, overseas expansions, USA Patriot Act, Banking Secrecy Act, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Over his career he has demonstrated excellent leadership, communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills and have also developed and delivered training courses in the areas of AML/CFT, Compliance, Fraud & Financial Crime Risk Management, Bank Secrecy, Cyber Crimes & Internet Threats against Banks, E–Channels Fraud Prevention, Security and Investigation of Financial Crimes. The courses have been delivered as practical workshops with case study driven scenarios and exams to insure knowledge transfer.
His notable publications are: Rauf’s Compilation of Corporate Laws of Pakistan, Rauf’s Company Law and Practice of Pakistan and Rauf’s Research on Labour Laws and Income Tax and others.
His articles include: Revenue collection: Contemporary targets vs. orthodox approach, It is time to say goodbye to our past, US double standards, Was Due Process Flouted While Convicting Nawaz Sharif?, FATF and unjustly grey listed Pakistan, Corruption is no excuse for Incompetence, Next step for Pakistan, Pakistan’s compliance with FATF mandates, a work in progress, Pakistan’s strategy to address FATF Mandates was Inadequate, Pakistan’s Evolving FATF Compliance, Transparency Curtails Corruption, Pakistan’s Long Road towards FATF Compliance, Pakistan’s Archaic Approach to Addressing FATF Mandates, FATF: Challenges for June deadline, Pakistan: Combating the illicit flow of money, Regulating Crypto: An uphill task for Pakistan. Pakistan’s economy – Chicanery of numbers. Pakistan: Reclaiming its space on FATF whitelist. Sacred Games: Kulbhushan Jadhav Case. National FATF secretariat and Financial Monitoring Unit. The FATF challenge. Pakistan: Crucial FATF hearing. Pakistan: Dissecting FATF Failure, Environmental crimes: An emerging challenge, Countering corrupt practices .
Twitter: Adbul Rauf Shakoori
The recent publication, coauthored with Huzaima Bukhari, is
Pakistan Tackling FATF: Challenges & Solutions
available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08RXH8W46
