A general election in any country is usually preceded by colour – flags and corner meetings, slogans and songs, fiery speeches and promises, debates and rallies.
Not so for us this time, it seems. With the general elections set to take place in just a month from today, one is forced to ask: where's the enthusiasm?
What we have so far is a PTI kicking and screaming – justifiably on most counts – that it is not being given a level-playing field, the PML-N’s countless parliamentary board meetings with Nawaz Sharif in the chair, and just the PPP’s Bilawal Bhutto adding some action by starting on his campaign trail. Where is the vibe of an election, where are the candidates, where are the manifestos, where is the party leadership of PML-N, which election symbol will the PTI contest on – these and many other questions loom as a economy-weary voter looks on at the umpteenth court cases going on at the moment.
First, it has to be said that the question of a playing field or a level-playing field should not be arising when the elections are just around the corner – in fact, that this is even a problem in a democracy is enough to taint the whole system. History buffs would point out that this is hardly the first instance of this issue but a counter to that is simple: a wrong in the past does not cancel out a wrong in the present. Unfortunately in Pakistan, the uncertainty surrounding the election has still not faded – even though it should have. We are still hearing murmurs – and even demands – of a delay in the election, despite the Supreme Court doing everything it can to ensure the elections take place on time and without any hitches. Much stays uncertain and controversial, especially given the fact that one party is alleging that it is being kept out of the electoral process.
And then there's the PML-N which seems to have adopted a strange code of silence. The ‘quiet’ in the party is unexplainable and analysts are rightly wondering why a party that may eventually form a government in the centre and in Punjab is missing in action – is it because it thinks it is unpopular and the results may not be convincing for the public or is there more to the whispers that it is worried about forming a weak government (with the right kind of patronage) and not happy about what transpired during the 16 months of PDM government or is it just complacent? It is quite obvious that despite what the PML-N and the Sharifs faced in 2018 and during the PTI tenure, travails that also made the party popular when it showed a face of resistance, it lost the war of narratives after the vote of no-confidence. One of the biggest weaknesses in the PML-N and the PPP to an extent is the almost dinosaur-like approach to social media campaigning, something the PTI has mastered to a level that is now an art form.
Whatever the reasons may be, if the candidates are not enthusiastic, expecting the voters to carry that burden is an ask too high from a people reeling under inflation. Voter turnout is a key indicator of the health of a democracy and low voter turnout can undermine the legitimacy of the election and the resulting government. Therefore, it is essential that efforts be made to encourage citizens, particularly young people, to participate in the electoral process. That may not be possible if the young voter feels they are deprived of the mandate altogether. Elections in two provinces were not held as per the constitutionally mandated timeframe. General elections are also taking place after a Herculean effort. These delays and a controversial caretaker setup has also taken a toll on the country. That 'the end' to these issues will not come on Election Day is a reality many have realized. A controversial election will mean controversial results. Pakistan cannot afford another post-2018 situation. There is little time left to inject some enthusiasm among people; the only way to do that would be to hold a free and fair election and accept the results – whatever they may be. Is it not time for Pakistan to finally enter the realm of true democracy?
