The latest Democracy Index released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) reveals a significant decline in Pakistan’s democracy ranking, which fell from 3.25 in 2023 to 2.84 in 2024 due to the political unrest surrounding the February 8, 2024 elections.
According to the Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen), the elections were marred by violence and disruptions despite recording the highest voter turnout in history. The EIU highlighted the imprisonment of Pakistan’s most popular politician, Imran Khan, right before the polls, casting a shadow over the electoral process.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) raised concerns about the integrity and transparency of the elections. HRCP monitors reported significant issues in 51 constituencies, including a nationwide internet shutdown and mobile service suspensions on polling day. These disruptions made it difficult for voters to locate their polling stations.
Delays and Discrepancies in Results
Returning officers’ delay in announcing election results further tainted the electoral process. In many cases, the announced results did not match the counts provided by presiding officers, raising suspicions about the accuracy of the vote count.
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HRCP also noted that in many polling stations, the results were not displayed publicly as required, and there were instances where candidates and observers were not allowed to witness the provisional consolidation of results.
The EIU report also notes the deteriorating state of global democracy, which has been in its worst condition for nearly two decades. Norway continues to lead as the most democratic country with a score of 9.81, while Afghanistan remains at the bottom with a score of 0.25. Bangladesh notably dropped 25 places, marking a significant shift in the global democracy landscape.
As Pakistan grapples with these challenges, the international community and local stakeholders continue to watch closely, hoping to improve the country’s democratic processes.
