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Gallup 2012 Wellbeing survey reports that 20% of Pakistanis say they are "thriving", down from 32% last year. However, the report shows that more of them are still better off than their neighbors in Bangladesh (16% thriving) and India (11% thriving). The number of those "thriving" increased in Bangladesh by 3% and declined in India by 6%.
Haq's Musings: Pakistanis Rank Above Neighbors on Gallup Wellbeing Index 2012
The fact that the number of Pakistanis who consider themselves thriving is down from 1 in 3 last year to 1 in 5 now is understandable because of many serious and worsening crises Pakistan is facing today. The real question is who are these 20%? And why do they say they are thriving?
To explain the significance of the 20% who say they are thriving, you have to understand how democracy and electoral politics work in Pakistan and many other democracies.
The voter turnout in 2008 elections in Pakistan was just 44%. The PPP got 30% of the votes cast making up only about 13% of the registered voters to emerge as the single largest party. PML (N) received about 20% of the votes or approval of just 9% of the registered voters to finish in second place.
The ruling politicians operate a vast system of political patronage that allocates state's resources and formulates policies to satisfy their base.To win the next election, the PPP needs just 13% of the vote in the next election to stay in power. To maintain its base in rural Sind and southern Punjab, the PPP has done the following to keep it loyal:
1. Raised crop prices significantly to ensure a yearly transfer of over Rs. 300 billion income from cities which benefits the landed class and the rural folks who support the PPP.
2. Allocated the lion's share of development funds in Larkana & Multan and given contracts to their cronies to build roads, airports, etc.
3. Given billions of rupees in aid for Benazir Income Support Program most of which goes to those favored by PPP politicians.
4. Give lots of state jobs to its cronies to plunder the state's resources.
The PML(N), the ruling party in Punjab province, is engaging in similar acts of patronage of its base to maintain their loyalty and vote bank in the next election.
Imran Khan is the new kid on the block. He may take some of PML (N)'s votes. He is no threat to the PPP or its ANP and MQM allies.
So barring any serious military intervention or ISI manipulation of elections, the Pakistani parliament is likely to remain basically unchanged after the next election.
Haq's Musings: Haq's Crystal Ball: A Look at Pak Elections 2013
Such polls do not take into account the constituency level electoral math in various regions that make up different parties vote banks.
PPP is still popular with its base in rural Sindh and Southern Punjab but with reduced margin as seen in recent NA-151 results.
Jiyala at work ?
According to PEW, " nearly nine-in-ten (87%) are dissatisfied with the way things are going in their country, while just 12% are satisfied." I have many rich family members and friends in Pakistan, but being rich does not necessarily means that you are satisfied with PPP's performing over past four years.
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There is no way the voter turnout will be just 22% this time around. The low turnout of 2008 was due to a dictator being power and a puppet judiciary (CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry was not reinstated). In2013 elections, even if the turnout is 50%, there is no way PPP will be power.
No, he never supports PPP usually. He's more a self serving agent, in this caseRiazHaq is PPP agent....
PTI will sweep out PPP seats from Southern Punjab and significantly hurt N league elsewhere in Punjab too.
There will be a close match between ANP, PTI and DPC in KPK
And hopefully PTI would sweep through Balochistan.
Sindh would definitely go to PPP and if PTI can get a few seats here n there that would be bonus.
With some allies I hope PTI would be able to establish the next government.
Political parties and pundits are catching the election fever as the current PPP-led coalition government in Pakistan is nearing the end of its term in February 2013.
Campaign rallies are being held across the country by major political parties including Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League factions (PML N & Q), Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Awami National Party (ANP), Jamiat Ulama Islam (JUI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and others like Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC), etc.
Overseas Pakistanis are getting into the spirit of elections as well. A WBT TV show called Viewpoint From Overseas recently interviewed me on the subject and asked for my analysis and predictions of winners and losers in 2013. Here's a summary of how I see the outcome of the upcoming elections in Pakistan:
1. Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) is likely to emerge as the single largest party with 90 or slightly fewer seats of the 272 general seats up for direct elections in 2013.
2. Pakistan Muslim League (N) would be competing with Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) for the second spot.
3. PPP is most likely to form the next coalition government with smaller parties like PML (Q), MQM and ANP.
4. PPP will essentially retain its vote bank in rural Sindh and Southern Punjab while MQM and ANP will carry urban Sindh and KP province respectively.
5. PML (N) will have real struggle getting overall majority in Punjab province.
6. There will be little change in Balochistan given the fact that the nationalists and insurgents are not ready to talk peace and participate in elections.
For detailed analysis, please watch this video:
Haq's Musings: Haq's Crystal Ball: A Look at Pak Elections 2013
@RiazHaq - I really admire your analysis on issues, but the one you made in the clip you shared lately is flawed.
According to you - PPP by increasing the prices of crop relieved the farmers indirectly, especially ones in rural areas of Sindh and southern Punjab. And since PPP enjoys its support of rural population in mentioned areas so this move by the PPP led government would maintain the supporting spirit among mass.
Sir, if you meant a Zamindar or Wadera by the term farmer then you're absolutely right but if you meant an ordinary worker (hari or kisan) then I am afraid you're terribly wrong. I hope you must be knowing agriculture in Sindh, people there own thousands of acres it is quite unlikely that you come across an individual who owns land more than 50 acres. The way Waderas treat their farmers/kisan is well established, these workers most of the times are found paying off the debt. Comparatively smaller Zamaindars face intrigues, water to their land is being theft with the help of irrigation department.
This so called relief serves Zamindars better than ordinary Kisans, latter class is still in the condition that they were in before, their lament is same "Aata mehnga"
If PPP policy makers still believe this move would boost their support then seriously PPP needs to replace them with professional ones.
P.S: Impact of the policy is a different debate altogether.