PTI stole the elections. Pakistan must answer following questions to decide fate of democracy in the country including authoritarianism, legitimacy of using economy as booby trap for winning elections and use of populist political sleaze template of American presidential democratic system in our parliamentary democracy which is violation of the Constitution. To strengthen democracy, Pakistan needs to consider the past, present and future of election results because elections are not held in a vacuum.
PTI government cut fuel prices as a planned economic booby trap for winning 2024 general election. They wooed the voters with quixotic fuel price cuts leaving an economic sinkhole for the incoming government (derailing of IMF program, prospects of default, rise in debt and cost of living). Due to mini budget of Liz Truss, UK economy reportedly lost around $500bn. It is use of toxic western practice in Pakistan (Toxic budgets: the UK chancellors who left a poisonous legacy, 2 March 2024, the Guardian). Trump added $9T to national debt and gave mega tax cuts to keep political support while blaming Democrats its economic fallouts including high cost of living. Election results case is a ploy for getting legal cover from courts. Can governments booby-trap economy for the next government to win elections?
After losing vote of no confidence, PTI boycotted national assembly and took to streets instead of sitting in the opposition for remaining term of Parliament. It was a complete violation of country’s parliamentary system including participation in Prime Minister Question Hour and committees as democratic obligation of the opposition leader and shadow cabinet members for keeping democratic check and balance on the government to represent their voters (Oregon high court rules 10 senators who staged walkout can’t seek reelection 1 Feb 2024 Washington Post). Lawmakers cannot remain absent from house for prolonged period. Like government servants, lawmakers cannot claim salary without working. It merits recovery of salary and benefits from all PTI lawmakers including the PM under one country one law to end free ride of lawmakers. It is time to uphold rule of law, stop stealing of public funds and restore democratic accountability.
PTI went on American presidential style of election campaigning including holding style election rallies, press conferences, telethons, and collecting funds after losing vote of no confidence. In parliamentary system, there is a period for electioneering with checks and balances including limits on campaign funding. It was election rigging at the cost of free and fair elections including electioneering laws, funding, and their audits. The Western democracies are facing the challenge of dirty money in elections (UK government and dirty money checks on political donations, 26 June 2923, ICIJ, the integrity of UK elections from rogue actors overseas 7 Dec 2023, PTI all set to open overseas front against Pakistan: FIA sources 28 Jan 2024). PTI claims tantamount to legitimizing all such challenges to democracy, Election Commission of Pakistan and rule of law including level playing field, election funding, electioneering laws and upholding rule of law including Election Act 2017? It is need of the hour to ensure democracy in both country and political parties.
Like Jan 6, events surrounding May 9 was part of the election winning strategy. It includes attempts to make Tiger Force, lawyers’ convention in Convention Hall, small protests outside cantonments, out of turn promotion of justices and handpicked judges. US Congress Jan 6 Committee looked into storming of Capitol and accused Trump of deliberately making false claims against stealing of elections. The report showed that Trump plotted to overturn 2020 election results well in advance. It was a multi-part conspiracy (The 17 findings in the January 6 committee’s final report, 23 Dec 2022, the Guardian). It has created a legal chaos in the country on 14(3) prompting calls for SC to do the right thing and disqualify Trump (MSNBC). Pakistan’s Supreme Court needs to take account of role of judiciary including role of last two SC Chief Justices in derailing democracy at stake in this election results case. Democracy needs to be protected from lawmakers, political parties, office holders and justices violating their oaths.
Similarly, Pakistan is also facing the populist political sleaze. The punishment of government servants in MPO case is continuation of multipart attack on democracy in Pakistan including May 9. America has punished 1260 rioters involved in Jan 6 with planners getting 18-20 years prison terms. The State knew about Jan 6 planning (Keep your head on the swivel: FBI analysts circulated a prescient warning of Jan 6 violence in November 2020, 7 Sept 2021, Politico). The American military saved democracy on Capitol Hill (They are not going to succeed: Top generals feared Trump would attempt a coup after election 14 July 2012, CNN). Trump publicly targeted top general who said he is loyal to nation not wannabe dictators (Gen defends himself over Trump and says his loyalty to nation and constitution not wannabe dictators, the Guardian, Politico). Democracy, state and democratic institutions need protection from wannabe dictators bedlam abuse of public offices and state machinery for ruling.
—The writer is senior political analyst based in Islamabad.
Email: [email protected]
views expressed are writer’s own.
