Gallup survey shows popularity up for PTI, down for PML-N

ISLAMABAD: Gallup has unleashed latest survey that brings gains and losses for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), respectively.

According to the survey, PTI lead by Chairman Imran Khan jumps from 22% to 25% in popularity, whereas PML(N) reduces to 36% from its initial 38% position, after Panama verdict.

Gallup Pakistan has conducted its survey based on questionnaires to more than 1,300 respondents from all over the country. Prime motive of this survey was to find that what importance do Pakistan’s people hold about the historic Panama verdict?

According to the survey, 55% of the people viewed this decision to be favoring Nawaz Sharif, whereas 14% dissented and said it went against the Prime Minister; 31% held that this verdict implicates neutrality, neither favoring nor in against him.

The survey questioned that whether this decision will help in curbing corruption, the reply was in affirmative  by 29%, whereas 51% differed and 20% said that this decision will be tantamount in escalating corruption.

Survey further questioned the pre-Panama positioning  of political parties, where 38% opted to vote PML(N), 22% to PTI, followed by Pakistan People’s Party(PPP) by 16%, and 11% to the other remaining Parties. Eight per cent of people showed their lack of interest in casting their votes, 3% showed confidence in voting independent candidates, 1% did not reply to the question.

The respondents were asked about their voting pattern after Panama case, where PTI gained 3% of popularity rising to 25% from 22%, PML(N) lost 2% of popularity dropping  from 38% to 36%, PPP remained on its initial standing of 16%, other 12% and 2% remained aligned with other political parties and independent candidates respectively; 8% stood with their prior Panama verdict view of not casting the vote, 1% did not respond.

The survey also questioned that many people regard this decision to be implicating Nawaz Sharif as dishonest but not disqualified. Do you agree with this?

The reply was interesting: 46% replied that neither this decision implicates of dishonesty nor disqualification of the Prime Minister, whereas 39% regarded this decision to implicate that Prime Minister is not honest but at the same time not disqualified, 15% did not reply.

Gallop Pakistan also asked that in your view which personalities and group accepted Panama’s decision?

71% replied that Nawaz Sharif and his party accepted this decision, followed by 19% attributed to PTI’s acceptance, Jamate Islami(JI) 17%. 9% held that PML(N) have not accepted the decision, PTI by 45% and JI by 35%, respectively.

Similar trend was observed for PPP, as 17% held that PPP accepted the verdict and 44% said in denial.

A sample of 28% of population involved in survey accepted the decision, whereas 32% did not accepted the decision.