Challenges Faced By Political Parties In The Upcoming Elections

Challenges Faced By Political Parties In The Upcoming Elections: Supreme Court has suspended LHC orders that were to nullify the nomination papers of candidates will facilitate the dual nationality holders. In the past candidate were required to announce what number of time they voyaged abroad amid most recent three years and cost brought about consequently was compulsory in 2013. It is no more an obligation to mention in the new nomination papers.

We respect the decision of Supreme Court for deferring Lahore High Court nomination papers decision but this will put in jeopardy caretaker setup as they will be in no position to take decision on submitted candidate’s nomination papers or raise a question over it.

Election commission has announced from today candidates to submit new nomination papers to further safeguard the parliamentary procedure. Keeping in view the current picture, due date of holding Elections on July 25th is by all accounts a test subject to number of reasons. Delimitation has made voting demographics which includes constituencies, union councils, list of voters ambiguous for the candidates.

Another long process that has to be completed may become the cause of delay in Elections, is obtaining NOC from MNAs residing in parliament lodges. The process of vacating the lodges assigned to member parliament is lengthy so this may paves a way in pushing Elections two months ahead of its real date.

Then majority of Pakistani population (also registered voters) will be going to Saudi Arabia in July to perform Hajj so they will not be able to participate in voting process during the elections. Furthermore, due to Monsoon season floods are expected and many people evacuate their homes for shelter and hence, they will be deprived of their right to vote.

Having mentioned the causes, notion of delay in elections on July 25^th, however Chief Justice of Pakistan has taken a lead in this issue and it is not right to say anything anymore.

As per party situation, PTI is facing tough time for awarding tickets particularly in Islamabad where they have strong opposition and people are protesting against announcement of tickets for Islamabad region.

Although a huge potential crowd in Punjab is joining PTI but PML-N is still strong in rural setup where we have “Biradari System” so establishing a hold is rural set up is another challenge for PTI. It is very clear that in Punjab the real competition is between PTI and PML-N.

PTI should maintain its strength not only in public but in the party as well because any wrong and immature leadership will lead to loss for PTI eventually not favoring PTI’s votebank.

PPP is loosing strength in South Punjab and Sindh. Yesterday Fehmida Mirza with her husband and Pirpagara group announced a grand alliance and very clearly opposed PPP and their policies which will destabilize PPP in Sindh and South Punjab.

PML-N is also facing strong opposition by Tehreek-e-Labaik who will use religion card during the election and that will divide the voters as have observed in By-Elections/polls.

So it is quite early to say that any party will take a lead in the center. The situation as per scenario maintains that this election would be completely different than the previous elections of 2013.

Moreover minorities of Pakistan have shown their dissatisfaction on election process as well as on the statistics shared by population census as they claim that the actual minority population is hidden by the government. Therefore Christians have formed a grand alliance to nominate their representative for the upcoming elections and this emerging situation is a challenge for each political party as 36,36000 registered minority voters are enough to contribute or disturb votebank of any political party.

I hope that this election may bring productive results that would lead Pakistan to prosperity, stability and where the right of each segment is safeguarded.