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- February 9, 2024
- Kainat Shakeel
- 0
Despite charges of electoral fraud and defeat in his bid for an additional parliamentary seat, Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister of Pakistan, declared victory in the February 8 national elections. A candidate supported by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan became victorious in Mansehra, while Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, retained his seat in Lahore.
Even though the PTI and its followers were subjected to a severe crackdown in the run-up to the election, including having their logo banned, having their cell phone services suspended, having their candidates’ rallies prohibited, and having their agents prevented from polling site monitoring, the party managed to pull off an incredible comeback. In addition to accusing the strong military of supporting Sharif and meddling in the election, Khan and his allies have consistently disputed the corruption and other charges that put him in jail.
In contrast, Sharif maintained that his party was mandated to form the next government and rejected the idea of a hung parliament. He assured his followers that the country’s problems would take ten more years to solve and that he would give young people laptops. Social media users criticized his speech extensively, viewing it as an example of his conceit and disconnection from reality.
The unexpected delays in the vote-counting process, the prohibition on exit polls, the claims of deep fake videos, and the deadly attacks on politicians have all led many experts and observers to doubt the legitimacy and transparency of the election. Additionally, given Pakistan’s significant security and economic concerns, they have cautioned about the possible instability and uncertainty that could result from a divided and disputed parliament.