Dr Saeed Buzdar
The politics of electables in Pakistan is a phenomenon that undermines the democratic principles and values of the country. Electables are those candidates who have the ability and resources to win elections in their constituencies, regardless of their political affiliation, ideology, or performance. They rely on their social status, wealth, influence, and patronage networks to secure votes from the masses, who are often dependent on them for their livelihood and welfare. Electables are not loyal to any political party, but switch sides according to their personal interests and benefits. They also tend to pursue policies that favor their own class and clan, rather than the public good. Electables are a product of the feudal, tribal, and biradari systems that dominate the rural and semi-urban areas of Pakistan, where most of the voters reside.
These systems are based on primordial ties and relations that create a sense of identity and loyalty among the members of a group, and a sense of exclusion and hostility towards the outsiders. Electables exploit these systems to maintain their power and control over their constituencies, and to resist any social and political change that might threaten their interests. Electables are a major obstacle to the development of a genuine and representative democracy in Pakistan, as they distort the electoral process, weaken the political parties, and undermine the accountability and responsiveness of the government. They also contribute to the corruption, nepotism, and mismanagement that plague the state and society of Pakistan. Electables are a direct consequence of the parliamentary system of government that was adopted in the 1973 constitution of Pakistan, without considering the socio-economic and socio-institutional realities of the country. The parliamentary system is based on constituency-based electoral contests for the federal and provincial legislatures, which give an advantage to the electables, who have the resources and influence to win such contests.
The parliamentary system also encourages the formation of coalition governments, which depend on the support of the electables, who often demand and receive lucrative positions and favors in return. The parliamentary system also fails to provide an effective opposition, as the electables often switch sides to join the ruling coalition, or form their own factions and groups to bargain for their interests. The politics of electables in Pakistan is a serious challenge to the democratic aspirations and aspirations of the people of Pakistan, who deserve a better and fairer system of governance that reflects their will and serves their needs.
A possible solution to this challenge is to reform the electoral system and the political system of the country, to reduce the influence and role of the electables, and to empower the political parties and the citizens. Some of the possible reforms are: introducing a proportional representation system, or a mixed system, that allocates seats to the political parties according to their share of votes, rather than their number of seats; introducing a presidential system, or a semi-presidential system, that separates the executive and the legislative branches of the government, and elects the head of the state and the government directly by the people, rather than by the parliament; introducing a local government system, that devolves power and resources to the grassroots level, and creates a space for the participation and representation of the marginalized and disadvantaged groups; introducing a strict regulation and monitoring of the election campaign spending, and the sources and use of the political funds, to ensure transparency and accountability; introducing a comprehensive and effective system of education, health, and social welfare, that reduces the dependence of the people on the electables, and enhances their awareness and empowerment.
These reforms, however, require a strong political will and a broad consensus among the political parties and the civil society, which is not easy to achieve in the current polarized and fragmented political scenario of Pakistan. Therefore, the politics of electables in Pakistan is likely to continue and dominate the political landscape of the country, unless a major social and political change occurs that challenges and transforms the existing system and structures.
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In many parts of Pakistan, the rules of democracy do not apply. Voters in these areas are often beholden to a small number of influential figures, and national political parties focus their efforts on winning over these local “electables” rather than campaigning for votes. This means that elections in these areas are often decided not by the strength of the parties’ policies but by their ability to satisfy the interests of a select group of powerful individuals.
Ahead of the next general election, both the PPP and PML-N parties are vying to secure the support of electables in Balochistan, a key province for electoral success. Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the PML-N, has already gained the support of over two dozen electables, while the PPP, led by Asif Ali Zardari and his son Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, has also made progress in recent weeks.
Although Sharif appears to have a slight edge at the moment, Zardari is a formidable opponent known for his political acumen. He has stated that Balochistan is “the heart of Pakistan” and that winning over the province is essential for success.
With the election approaching and no clear favorite emerging, the situation remains fluid. Zardari is likely to continue his efforts to position the PPP as the most stable and reliable option, especially considering the uncertainty surrounding the PML-N’s prime ministerial candidate.
Given the current trajectory, it is likely that the election will result in a hung parliament, further increasing the importance of securing the support of key electables. The game is on, and the outcome will determine the future of Pakistani politics.
Accordingly, it is critical for the Pakistani electorate to defeat electables. Furthermore, according to the surveys of the republicpolicy.com, the popular vote will play a critical part in the coming general elections in Pakistan scheduled to be held on 24th December 2024. Particularly, the youth, the women and the working class will not vote for groups but for the political parties and leaders for national and international considerations.
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