Who Will Win The Elections 2018 in Pakistan?

Analysis: Hussain Raza, BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering

Structural Engineering, University of Auckland (2019) I see two possibilities as this stage:

1. PTI Led Coalition Government (AML, BAP, PML-Q, GDA, PSP to be coalition partners, Independents to join PTI)
2. PML-N and PPP Coalition Government (MMA, ANP, MQM-P to be coalition partners, Independents to join PML-N or PPP)

(Seat projection: PTI - 104; PML(N) - 78; PPP - 28; MQM(P) -13; PSP - 1; MMA - 8; BAP - 4; GDA - 10; PML(Q) - 6; AML - 1; ANP - 2; BNP - 3; NP - 1; PKMAP - 2; IND - 11)

Reasons:

1. PPP’s support base is relatively unhinged, but some of their electable candidates have joined PTI, and the formation of the GDA in Sindh means that they are bound to lose some seats in interior Sindh, though they may make some gains in Karachi due to the MQM breaking up.
2. PML(N) have suffered massive losses largely due to the huge amounts of corruption scandals opening up. Their former leader, Nawaz Sharif was disqualified from PM’ship, and has now been disqualified from office for life due to corruption. Multiple high ranking ministers, such as Khawaja Asif have been disqualified, while other ministers are still being investigated. PML(N) are also losing a huge amount of electable candidates to PTI.
3. Demands for a new province in South Punjab have led to a large amount of sitting PML(N) MNAs to leave the party. There is a bad feeling towards PML(N) in South Punjab. At the same time, PTI have expressed that they will create a new province in South Punjab on an administrative basis, if elected. This means that the PML(N) defects are likely to join PTI, or at least form an electoral alliance with them.
4. The FATA merger has become a major issue of late. The people of FATA mostly want to be merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but PML(N) and it’s allies, MMA and PKMAP, are blocking the merger.
5. The Khatam-e-Nubuwwat issue caused widespread protests by the Barelvi religious group, and has created a bad feeling towards PML(N) from the religious part of Pakistan. These voters may look towards PTI rather than PPP, because PTI aim to build a country based on the “principles of Islam” while PPP are a secular party.
6. In Pakistan, people vote for electables, and all the PPP and PML(N) electable are defecting to PTI.
7. PTI’s strong performance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has ensured that they will be the first party to win the province two times in a row. PTI have turned Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into model province for the country, and have done a lot of work there including:
   1. Depoliticising the police.
   2. Establishing law and order.
   3. Improved health and education. Reforming and modernisation of madrasahs.
   4. Rs 5 lakh health insurance to 70% of the population.
   5. Improving the environment by undetaking the “billion tree tsunami project”.
   6. Taking genuine and effective measures to fight corruption. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the most corrupt province of Pakistan before 2013. After 2013, when PTI came into power, it has become the least corrupt province. PTI also fought hard against PML(N) in the Panama papers corruption scandal.
   7. Development work such as Peshawar BRT.
   8. Local government system
   • MQM crumbling into factions in Karachi leaves a void in Karachi. This void is being hotly contested by PTI and PSP. While MQM factions won’t lose all their seats in Karachi and urban Sindh, they are likely to lose a significant amount of them, mostly to PTI, but a few to PPP too.
   • PML(N) failure in Baluchistan has lead to the formation of the BAP by PML(N) and PML(Q) defects. This new party is filled with electables, and seem likely to form Baluchistan government and win a good share of seats. This new party seems to have an inclination towards PTI, especially since the senate elections, and are looking like a viable ally for PTI.

   Ultimately it will come down to which party can get the most people to vote on election day, at this stage I would put my money on a PTI led government.

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Tags: Election, Election Results 2018, MQM, Pakistan, Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, PMLN, PTI, Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan