July 26; PILDAT organised a consultative session on Next General Election and Prospects of Democracy in Pakistan in Islamabad.
Panellists at the Forum covered key themes relating to the topic. Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, President PILDAT, spoke on the subject of Next General Election and Prospects of Democracy. Mr. Bilal Gilani, Executive Director Gallup Pakistan, shared his views on Prospects of Free and Fair Election and Democracy in Public Opinion. Mr. Fawad Hasan Fawad, Former Principal Secretary to Prime Minister of Pakistan, shared his perspectives on Can Democracy Deliver in Pakistan?
Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob welcomed participants and presented an overview of the polarization preceding the General Election 2023. He also shared Pakistan’s track record of the past 11 General Elections and added that arguably 1970 and 2013 General Elections were relatively held in a fair manner while the remaining General Elections could be termed as rigged.
Mr. Bilal Gillani, Executive Director Gallup Pakistan, shared that 77% of the Pakistanis are dissatisfied with the way things are being handled in Pakistan. He also mentioned that a large number of people feel despondent due to the state of economy and 20% of the population thinks that economy has further deteriorated. 20% of the population also believes that democracy is not delivering in Pakistan.
Mr. Fawad Hasan Fawad, Former Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, believed that due to interference of undemocratic forces, democracy in Pakistan could not flourish. Citizens feel discontented with democracy. He added said that Pakistan suffers from issues of governance that need to be addressed but maintained that the best way forward for Pakistan is democracy despite all challenges.
