With the country's parliament completing its second term since 2008, is Pakistan truly on the road to democracy? How do the headlines compare with the trend-lines? Are there any significant potholes in this road to democracy? Are the persistent negative headlines justified? Do oft-repeated dire forecasts about Pakistani state's survivability make sense?
Do Pakistani political party leaders practice democracy within their own parties? What accounts for attempts by the political party leaders and candidates to resist full financial and other disclosures? Why did they try to escape accountability by passing Election Act 2017?
Who are the "electables"? Why are political parties trying to recruit them to run as their candidates in the coming general elections scheduled for July 25, 2018? Can such "electables" bring about much needed reforms in the political parties? What are the downsides of putting up electables in terms of widening political participation and voter turnout?
Viewpoint From Overseas host Misbah Azam discusses these questions with Sabahat Ashraf and Riaz Haq (www.riazhaq.com)
https://youtu.be/Tx8hKH0Ae8U
Related Links:
Haq's Musings
South Asia Investor Review
Pakistan Elections Act 2017
US DoD 1999 Forecast: "Pakistan Disappears By 2015"
Democracy's Disappointing Report Card
Nawaz Sharif's Report Card 2013-18
CPEC Transforming Pakistan's Least Developed Regions
Pakistan: The Other 99% of the Pakistan Story
How Pakistan's Corrupt Elite Siphon Off Public Funds
Bumper Crops and Soaring Credit Drive Tractor Sales
Panama Leaks
How West Enables Corruption in Developing Countries
Declining Terror Toll in Pakistan
Riaz Haq's YouTube Channel
3 comments:
While #Pakistan political party leaders award "tickets" to the status-quo "electables", a young 28 year old upstart Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez beats #Congressman Joe Crowly, leader of #DemocraticParty in #NewYork primary to win nomination #Elections2018
https://www.axios.com/joe-crowley-loses-his-new-york-primary-1530063288-7f4deab8-36c4-4a1d-a2d0-1ac10ca7d494.html
Rep. Joe Crowley, the fourth-highest Democrat in Congress, has served since 1999. That all ended tonight when his 28-year-old challenger, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, beat him in their primary for New York's 14th district.
This is a huge deal. And it's perhaps the biggest upset we've seen since David Brat beat then-House majority leader Eric Cantor in 2014. Crowley's defeat is the clearest example yet that the Democratic Party's progressive wing is only getting stronger under Trump.
Why it matters: This upset will have national implications for Democrats and it will force the party to renew their conversations about future party leadership. Just like we saw the strength of the Tea Party in 2014 with Cantor, progressives are starting to win their fight to reshape the Democratic Party in 2018.
Ex #PPP leader and ex finance minister of #Pakistan Dr. Mubashir Hasan on elections scheduled for July 25. "This election is not about real issues. Instead, it's a contest between rich politicians with stolen wealth & property overseas..." #Elections2018
https://www.riazhaq.com/2018/05/british-government-lists-pakistan-among.html
https://twitter.com/haqsmusings/status/1013562358466113536
Only half of #Pakistan’s adults registered to vote. Kohistan district of #KP is lowest 20% registered, while the #Jhelum district of #Punjab has highest 77% registered. #Balochistan's Kech has 24%, #FATA 29%, #Sindh's Tharparkar 35%. #Elections2018
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/337606-pakistan-s-only-half-population-registered-as-voters-ecp
In a shocking revelation, the Election Commission of Pakistan has found that only half of the country’s population is registered as voters. While there are understandably several reasons for the distressingly low number of voters ranging from their awareness, low motivation and logistical issues, it calls for serious attention from the political management to address this alienation.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Haripur has the highest percentage of voters i.e., 66 percent, Orakzai Agency in FATA also 66 percent, Awaran in Balochistan and Karachi Central in Sindh have 63 percent voters each.
Among provinces, Punjab is on top on the list is with 55 percent of its population as registered voters, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA 50 each, Sindh 47 while Islamabad has 38 percent of its population as voters. Balochistan is at the bottom with 35 percent of its population as registered voters.
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