Pakistan’s much-anticipated General Elections awaited after nearly a six-month delay following the dissolution of the National Assembly in August 2023, are yet again marred by political discord. The Senate’s recent announcement of an indefinite postponement, citing “security concerns” and the ongoing delineation of constituencies following the latest census, arrives amidst a mere 15 members out of 100 in attendance. This recurring postponement raises serious questions about power dynamics in both Pakistan’s internal landscape and its global political standing, potentially brewing a societal crisis. It is notable that the last general elections in Pakistan took place in 2018.
The intricate relationship between democracy and hypocrisy is emblematic in Pakistan’s tumultuous journey toward democratic governance since its inception in 1947 as the world’s sole Islamic republic.
Various indicators gauge Pakistan’s democratic standing, including freedoms of speech and press, electoral processes, and adherence to the rule of law. Crucial to democracy is freedom of speech and press autonomy, arenas where Pakistan has struggled to secure unrestrained and independent media. Pakistan ranked 150th out of 180 countries in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index.
Another crucial yardstick is the electoral process, where the nation lags on the Democracy Index, ranking 104th out of 167 countries in 2022. The rule of law, fundamental to evaluating democratic health, is undermined by pervasive corruption, political influence, and a lack of accountability. The judiciary’s perceived tardiness, inefficiency, and susceptibility to corruption remain substantial challenges. Discriminatory measures ostracise minority communities due to their religious beliefs, compelling conversion or subjecting them to the draconian Blasphemy Law, often wielded for personal vendettas. The Jaranwala incident in August 2023 stands as a testimony to the terror inflicted upon Pakistan’s minorities, with properties of Christian communities reduced to ashes.
Shia Muslims, Christians, Ahmadis, Hindus, and Sikhs, constituting Pakistan’s minority community, have faced targeted discrimination under both civil and military rule. Political rhetoric in support of minorities fails to translate into meaningful action. Certain urban and rural areas, where minorities settled prior to Muslim presence—such as the Sikh community in Shangla—face challenges in accessing fundamental rights like places of worship, crematoriums, and medical facilities. Their places of worship and residence have been vandalized under false blasphemy allegations.
Beyond disenfranchisement, the minority community confronts severe violence from militant Islamist factions. Pakistan’s legal framework effectively legitimizes, and sometimes endorses, such persecution, particularly targeting the Ahmadiyya community. Legal statutes openly discriminate against religious minorities, primarily Ahmadis, prohibiting their open identification as Muslims.
The current Pakistan caretaker government under PM Kaker faces accusations of rejecting 3,000 nominations, including that of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M). On the 2023 National Minorities Day, the chairman of the Minorities Alliance of Pakistan demanded increased seats in national and provincial assemblies and the removal of articles 41 and 91 from the Constitution, which restrict non-Muslims from the presidency and prime ministership, respectively. This shrinking political space for minorities has been a persistent issue since Pakistan’s inception.
Additionally, separatist groups’ protests against the recent census and the forced merger of the FATA region pose further challenges. The Qabail Tahafuz Movement (QTM) insists on no elections in FATA until the Supreme Court decides on the forced merger’s legality. Allegations of unconstitutional constituency listings in the new census cast doubt on its representational accuracy. The forced merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) into the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in Pakistan was a significant and controversial decision that stirred considerable debate and discontent among the local populace. Critics argued that the integration lacked comprehensive planning and failed to address the region’s unique challenges adequately, as well as threatened to lose their distinct identity, cultural heritage and traditions. The Qabail Tahafuz Movement (QTM) emerged as a prominent voice against the forced merger, demanding a reconsideration of the decision and highlighting grievances related to the neglect of local aspirations and rights.
For the forthcoming elections to be deemed impartial, Pakistan must ensure the active participation of its minority communities. Disputes over religious beliefs should not deprive individuals of their right to vote. Establishing a comprehensive and equitable engagement of minority communities in the electoral process is imperative before considering the recommendations of the National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR), such as creating a separate ministry for minorities.
Historically, Pakistani political parties have courted Islamist factions to enhance their credibility, exemplified by the blasphemy law’s influence and marginalisation of minority religious communities. Politicians and decision-makers standing increasingly hinges on their advocacy or adherence to a particular brand of Islam, eclipsing assessments of their proposed policies.
Elections in Pakistan predominantly serve as formal obligations to meet constitutional mandates and cater to the interests of the political elite. Personal ambitions often supersede national interests within Pakistani electoral processes. Without a fundamental departure from this entrenched pattern, enduring political instability seems imminent for generations to come.
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