Survey: 54% of Pakistanis term elections ‘transparent’

ISLAMABAD: In the aftermath of Pakistan’s general election held on February 9, a recent survey conducted by a renowned international research firm sheds light on public perceptions regarding the transparency of the electoral process.

The survey suggests that 54% of Pakistanis believe that the elections were overall transparent.

Conducted by IPSOS, one of the largest research firms operating in 90 countries with a workforce of over 10,000 research professionals, the survey provides insights into the public sentiment surrounding the electoral process.

While allegations have been raised, particularly by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), claiming deprivation of nearly 80 seats in the National Assembly, the research indicates that 54% of Pakistanis perceive the elections as transparent.

However, concerns linger, with 39% of respondents expressing belief in electoral malpractice during the February 8 elections.

The impact of alleged malpractice resonated most significantly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where PTI secured a majority. In this province, 73% of respondents felt that the elections were not conducted fairly.

The IPSOS survey, which interviewed over 3,000 individuals nationwide in its post-election assessment of transparency and electoral malpractice, reveals that 3 out of 5 Pakistanis consider the polling procedures fair and transparent. Rural residents were more likely to view the process positively.

Approximately 33% of respondents believed that the suspension of mobile phone services was a prudent decision, while 29% deemed it erroneous. The rest maintained a neutral stance.

Interestingly, the shutdown of mobile phone services received more favourable opinions from residents of Balochistan, while those in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa expressed dissatisfaction.