Not even five months have passed since the general elections took place on February 8 this year but from the get-go, there have been numerous calls for new elections. While this demand from the PTI of either new elections or asking the government to return its ‘stolen mandate’ makes sense to some observers who think it’s a political demand, they have been surprised by the same demand being made by other parties that have lost the elections. On Sunday, JUIF Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman demanded fresh elections – without interference by the establishment. The Awami National Party (ANP) has also demanded new elections. It may all look good on paper that these parties are demanding new elections because of serious rigging allegations but is it even practical? And is this a realistic demand? Many observers argue that there is no room for new elections. The country is reeling from an economic crisis and is going to the IMF for another bailout programme and can hardly afford to hold another general election, which would cost us billions again.
Then there is the issue of terrorism which has made a comeback in the country, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the worst-hit again. Both JUI-F and ANP are from KP and know full well that under the circumstances, holding elections again would mean more violence. There are also questions being asked within the JUI-F that even if elections are held again as a result of a mass agitation by the party, will it even change the results? Will the PTI not win KP again? How does it benefit the JUI-F if new elections take place? One can remember well that the JUI-F was the most vocal when it came to the demand that elections should be delayed and not held in February 2024. At that time, they were the beneficiaries of the caretaker government and knew the ground realities that they were likely to lose on the ground.
There’s another argument on why fresh elections should not be held. Elections are held around the world as a means of conflict resolution between political ideologies and parties but in Pakistan, most elections have led to even more conflict. The last two elections in particular have led to a lot of political instability and chaos that is not going anywhere anytime soon. Both the 2018 elections and the 2024 elections have been controversial because of the alleged interference by institutions and how voters have been disenfranchised during both polls. Some say that the hybrid model benefits one or the other party, which is why the party that is the beneficiary sees no point in rolling back the system. However, unless all political parties sit down and chart a way forward to ensure that there is an independent Election Commission and that any political interference come to an end, we cannot have free, fair, and meaningful elections that will not lead to any controversy. Until then, controversial elections and disenfranchisement of voters will continue. The political parties should not keep waiting for their turn(s) to come. They should ensure that the will of the people rules regardless of who comes to power.