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Pakistan is set to hold general elections on February 8. A military-backed crackdown on former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party has cast doubts on the fairness of the polls. As VOA's Pakistan bureau chief Sarah Zaman reports, some worry elections may not bring the political stability needed to pull this nation of some 240-million people out of its deep economic crisis.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Pakistan Election Preview
HEADLINE: Pakistan Heads to Polls Amid Political and Economic Crises
TEASER: A Gallup opinion poll released this week shows 70% of Pakistanis lack trust in elections
PUBLISHED: Wednesday, 02/07/2024 at 06:27 EST
BYLINE: Sarah Zaman
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Lahore, Pakistan
VIDEOGRAPHER: Wajid Asad
VIDEO EDITOR: Malik Waqar Ahmed, Rod James
SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS,
VIDEO SOURCE: VOA original, ISPR, AFP
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV X__ RADIO X_
TRT: 2:29
VID APPROVED BY: pcd
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[Pakistan is set to hold general elections on February 8. A military-backed crackdown on former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party has cast doubts on the fairness of the polls. As VOA's Pakistan bureau chief Sarah Zaman reports, some worry elections may not bring the political stability needed to pull this nation of some 240-million people out of its deep economic crisis.]]
((NARRATOR))
More than 128 million Pakistanis are registered to vote in the February 8 general elections. Many are struggling to make ends meet.
((Radio cue: Rukhsana Bibi, a mother of three, says she wants the next government to bring down back-breaking inflation.))
((Rukhsana Bibi, Mother)) ((Female, Urdu))
“The first problem they [the winner] should solve is inflation. Utility bills are really high. Inflation is back-breaking.”
((NARRATOR))
Prices are nearly 30 percent higher than a year ago. Slow economic growth and a crushing external debt burden have pushed millions into poverty. A $3 billion lifeline that the International Monetary Fund threw to Pakistan last July runs out in March.
((Radio cue: Ahmed Bilal Mehboob is the president of Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency or PILDAT, a Lahore-based think tank.))
((Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency)) ((Male, English))
“Pakistan has faced problems but not to this extent. We have almost stopped short of bankruptcy. So, therefore, it’s very important that as a result of this election a government should come which is able to handle the economic challenges.”
((NARRATOR))
A Gallup opinion poll released this week shows 70 percent Pakistanis lack trust in elections.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/609752/pakistanis-discontent-reaches-record-high-election.aspx
One of the country’s most popular political figures, former Prime Minister Imran Khan, is disqualified from running for office.
Just days before the polls, courts sentenced the jailed leader to years in prison for corruption, mishandling state secrets, and illicit marriage.
Khan rejects the charges as politically motivated.
Deprived of its iconic election symbol, the bat, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, has struggled to campaign freely in public and online. Much of its top leadership is either in jail or in hiding as the party is facing a crackdown since Khan’s supporters stormed military facilities last year in May to protest his arrest.
((Radio cue: PILDAT’s Mehboob worries elections may not bring much-needed political stability.))
((Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency)) ((Male, English))
“A lot of people are supporting that party so how will that play out? After the elections, will a government be able to be formed and whether there will be some political stability or because of this reason, that a party has been deprived of its symbol, there will be some protests etcetera, after the elections.”
((NARRATOR))
Three-time former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is the front-runner. Known for launching mega development projects, Sharif never completed a full term in office.
((Radio cue: Adeel Rehmat Ali, a rickshaw driver says he is still looking for the right candidate for his children’s well-being.))
((Adeel Rehmat Ali, Rickshaw Driver)) ((Male, Urdu))
“It’s hard to tell who the right person is. I am still looking for the right candidate to vote for. The right person for our future, for the well-being of our children.”
((NARRATOR))
Whoever wins will walk a tightrope with Pakistan’s military – the country’s most powerful institution.
((Sarah Zaman, VOA News, Lahore, Pakistan))
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NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Lahore, Pakistan
Embargo DateFebruary 7, 2024 07:26 EST
BylineSarah Zaman
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
