The document summarizes the 2013 Pakistani general elections. It discusses: 1) The historic nature of the elections as the first democratic transition of power between civilian governments in Pakistan's history. Nawaz Sharif's party, PML(N), won the elections and he became Prime Minister for the third time. 2) The voter turnout exceeded expectations at 55% despite threats from the Taliban against voting. 3) Key issues Sharif will face as Prime Minister include corruption, the economy, security, and improving ties with countries like the US, India, and Canada while maintaining sovereignty.

1. 58 DARPANTMJULY / AUGUST 2013
Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle
P
akistan – a nation that has
experienced three military
coups, been ruled by generals
for half its life and frequent
political drama will mark 2013 as a
decisive year in its political history.
Three prominent leaders, of 2013,
took to the streets of Pakistan
propagating their ideas of conviction
and change, to a nation stricken
by USA drone attacks, Taliban – a
fundamental Islamic militia – and
political unrest. Yet, the significance
of elections amongst the electorate
was evident from the fact that the
voter turnout excelled by all means.
The Election Commission of Pakistan
(ECP) announced that overall voter
turnout in the 2013 general elections
was recorded at 55.02 per cent. This
was despite Taliban threats of suicide
bombings, sabotaging polling booths
and causing turbulence on election
day.
The 2013 nationwide vote marks
the first time a civilian government
transferred power to an elected
PakistanPakistan2013 GENERAL ELECTIONS
A POST-MORTEM
successor after completing a full five-year
term in Pakistan.
Micheal Kugelman, a senior program
associate for South and Southeast Asia, at
Woodrow Wilson International Center
for Scholars says that given the recent
historic transfer of political power, there
is much more to be hopeful about in
Pakistan. “This is just the start of a series
of transitions this year – within the
next few months, Pakistan will have a
new Supreme Court chief justice, a new
army chief and in all likelihood, a new
president,” adds Kugelman.
AS THE PAKISTAN ELECTORATE PARTICIPATED IN THE CRUCIAL 2013 GENERAL ELECTION, NATIONS AROUND THE GLOBE NOT ONLY
OBSERVED, BUT WERE GREATLY INTERESTED IN THIS NATION’S FIRST DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION OF POWER IN ITS 66-YEAR HISTORY.
BY GARIMA GOSWAMI

2. 59DARPANTM JULY / AUGUST 2013
Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle
The significance of elections
amongst the electorate was
evident from the fact that
the voter turnout excelled
by all means. The Election
Commission of Pakistan
(ECP) announced that
overall voter turnout in the
2013 general elections was
recorded at 55.02 per cent.
This was despite Taliban
threats of suicide bombings,
sabotaging polling booths
and causing turbulence on
election day.
Pakistan and was killed in 2007 by a suicide
bomber, just before the last general election.
HISTORY IN THE
MAKING – MAY 11,
2013
Scores of individuals across Pakistan queued
to exercise their right to vote on May 11,
2013, despite threats of attacks by the
Taliban. Prior to election day, Taliban had
said they would carry out attacks, including
suicide bombings, as it considers the polls part
of an “infidel system” of democracy. Through
press releases and interviews, the Taliban
warned Pakistanis particularly women to
abstain from voting on the election day.
The Pakistani militant commanders said
they consider the concept of democratic
exercise of voting to be anti-Islamic. “We
do not accept the system of infidels which is
called democracy,” said Hakimullah Mehsud,
the head of the Pakistani Taliban, in a letter
dated May 1.
In light of the ongoing suicide bombings,
threats and attacks, Pakistan deployed tens of
thousands of security personnel to maintain
law and order during the polls. From April
until the time of election, the Taliban killed
more than 100 people, including candidates,
at election rallies and related events. An
important episode in this regard was the
kidnapping of Ali Haider Gilani, who is the
son of former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza
Gilani. Ali Haider’s secretary and guard were
shot dead in the attack and he was abducted
at gunpoint. Investigations are ongoing and
he remains missing at the time of publication.
However, the Taliban did not attack the
ruling PML(N) party of Pakistan during
their election campaign, in which Sharif had
suggested negotiations with the Taliban.
KEY PARTIES THAT RAN
IN THE ELECTION
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf – PTI:
The PTI party leader Imran
Khan was the most popular
amongst other candidates
and widely speculated
to win the election. This
cricket-luminary-turned
politician promised to put
the country on a fast-track development in
100 days and curb corruption in 90 days but
failed to gather the desired nationwide role,
post the 2013 general elections. Nevertheless,
PTI holds the chief position of the opposi-
tion party of Pakistan. Kugelman says, “Im-
ran Khan enjoys a high level of popularity in
Pakistan, but popularity won’t necessarily get
you elected in Pakistan-patronage. Khan and
his PTI party reject the patronage, which has
served Pakistan’s two largest and most estab-
lished parties – the PML(N) and PPP – very
well in recent decades.”
Pakistan Muslim League
(Nawaz) – PML(N): Ousted in a 1999
military coup, jailed and
exiled; steel magnate Nawaz
Sharif made a triumphant
comeback in the 2013
elections and now heads
his third term as Pakistan’s Prime Minister.
His party, the PML(N) was the main rival
of Pakistan’s People’s Party (PPP) to form
the next government. After holding office as
the 18th Prime Minister of Pakistan, Sharif
promised a clean, efficient and corruption
free government for Pakistan.
Pakistan People’s Party - PPP:
Bilawal Zardari, son of Asif
Ali Zardari, former president
of Pakistan, was announced
PPP’s candidate for the next
prime minister despite being younger than
the prescribed age limit to contest in elec-
tions. The Pakistan constitution underlines a
candidate has to be at least 25 years of age
in order to run for the Prime Minister’s post,
and Bilawal will not attain that age until Sep-
tember. However, in early May it was revealed
that Bilawal had left Pakistan and was not
present on the election day. The party alluded
to a “threat to his life” as reason behind the
move. Senior PPP leader Taj Haider spoke
to media in May and said, “We have already
lost Benazir Bhutto and will not risk losing
Bilawal.” Bhutto served as Prime Minister of

3. 60 DARPANTMJULY / AUGUST 2013
Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle
NAWAZ SHARIF – UNDER
THE LENS
In 1999, General Pervez Musharraf toppled
Sharif from his position of Prime Minister in
a bloodless military coup, accusing Sharif of
trying to assassinate him. However, Sharif was
later convicted of plane hijacking/terrorism and
sentenced to life imprisonment, although due
to an intercession of Saudi King Fahd, he was
allowed to go into voluntary exile. In 2009,
the Supreme Court of Pakistan cleared Sharif
of hijacking charges, and paved way for him to
legally run for office.
Despite his past history, Sharif campaigned
long and hard and as a result, his name will
forever be synonymous with the historic election
battle of 2013, which led to him being elected
as Prime Minister. As he came to power, Sharif
made an announcement forgiving all those
who had abused him and his family during the
election campaign and said his party would go
to any extent to make Pakistan a real progressive
Islamic welfare state.
High Commissioner of Pakistan to Canada,
Mian Gul Akbar Zeb spoke about the victory of
PML(N) saying the votes “expressed confidence
in the PML(N)’s agenda and programme, both
internal and external to place Pakistan firmly on
a path of reforms and overall progress.”
WHAT TO EXPECT OF US-
PAKISTAN TIES?
Being center stage in the Pakistan politics,
Sharif confronts major challenges. In fact it
was these challenges that Sharif addressed with
much conviction in his election manifesto that
the Pakistan electorate confided in him over
other candidates. In his first Prime Ministerial
speech to parliament, Sharif pledged to tackle
plaguing concerns such as corruption, a
crippled economy, unemployment and power
cuts across Pakistan. He briefly touched base in
terms of the ongoing rift concerning the United
States drone strikes. “These drone strikes that
rain in every day have to stop,” said Sharif.
“We respect the sovereignty of others and
they should respect our sovereignty and
independence. This must come to an end.”
His first interjection as Prime Minister not
only made headlines in the US, but around
the world portraying a sturdy leader, who
will take stand on issues pertaining to his
nation. “We must learn others’ [American]
concerns about us, and express our concerns
about them, and find a way to resolve this
issue.” Opposition party PTI reiterated
Sharif’s stand here, and Javed Hashmi of
PTI said PML(N) will have their support if
it makes serious plans to restore Pakistan’s
sovereignty and halt the drone attacks.
But the question again comes down
to what can we expect from US-Pak ties?
Kugelman throws light on this and explains
that US-Pak ties will not be significantly
affected, for the better or for the worse, by
Sharif coming to power. “Pakistan’s foreign
relations and especially with key players like
Washington, continue to be controlled by
the Pakistan military. For this reason, there’s
another power transition that will have
much more impact on US-Pak relations,”
and this will be observed later this year,
when Pakistan’s army chief is replaced.
For ties with the rest of the Western
world, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to
Canada, tells me the new government has
drawn up a comprehensive foreign policy
agenda aimed at enhancing Pakistan’s
prestige abroad, which can “be basically
brought about by strengthening the
domestic agenda.” Zeb says, “The effort at
the international level would not only be to
Michael Kugelman, Senior Program
Associate for South and Southeast Asia at
Woodrow Wilson International Center for
Scholars in the United States.
High Commissioner of Pakistan to Canada
Mr. Mian Gul Akbar Zeb
SPECIAL FEATURE

4. 62 DARPANTMJULY / AUGUST 2013
Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle
augment political relations but also economic and
commercial ties and establish true partnerships
abroad based on mutual respect.”
WHAT TO EXPECT OF
INDIA-PAKISTAN TIES?
In terms of foreign ties, Sharif’s policies
with India would also be taking a major turn
considering the recent tensions between the two
bordering nations. This year, the two nations
witnessed murder of two inmates in the foreign
jails of India and Pakistan. But that is only a
fragment of the long history of rift between these
two nations. “There is no doubt that Sharif wants
to improve relations with India,” says Kugelman.
“It’s very likely he’ll push forward to normalize
trade with Delhi.” But the political expert
says Sharif could run into trouble if he tries to
normalize in ways beyond trade. “Firstly, the
military has given no indication that it’s ready for
rapprochement…Secondly, India’s government
will likely resist diplomatic normalization until
Sharif’s government does more about the anti-
India extremist groups that live and operate
in many parts of Punjab province – the main
bastion of power for Sharif’s PML(N) party.”
Currently PM Sharif is holding the defence
portfolio with him. In terms of defence, the
move is understandable considering his previous
encounter with the army. Kugelman elaborates
on this saying, “By taking on these portfolios
himself, Sharif minimizes the prospect for
civil-military tensions, and ensures that the
government has a unified position on foreign
affairs security matters. This will make the job of
seeking agreement with the military much easier.”
However, on the flip side, Kugelman delineates
another unnoticed angle. “One should argue
that by holding so many portfolios historically
controlled by the army, Sharif is also increasing
Our diaspora in Canada has
close linkages with the country
of its origin. It also plays a
significant role in Pakistan’s
economic development and has
over the years contributed
enormously to humanitarian
and charitable causes there.
They would like to see a stable
and progressive Pakistan and I
can tell you that they are not
disappointed with the election
results.” - Mian Gul Akbar Zeb
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5. 63DARPANTM JULY / AUGUST 2013
Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle
the possibility for tensions, especially because of the
volatile history Sharif has had with the military.”
WHAT’S IN IT FOR
CANADA?
The entire globe closely observed this momentous
election in the history of Pakistan. For individuals
of Pakistani origin in Canada, what does Sharif’s
win translate into? Zeb answers this with much
confidence saying “Our diaspora in Canada has
close linkages with the country of its origin. It
also plays a significant role in Pakistan’s economic
development and has over the years contributed
enormously to humanitarian and charitable
causes there. They would like to see a stable and
progressive Pakistan and I can tell you that they are
not disappointed with the election results.”
The Pakistan High Commissioner to Canada
tells me that Pakistan has a special relationship with
Canada and it is a long standing and traditional
relationship that has grown “from strength to
strength.” Zeb lauds the Pak-Canada ties saying
Canada has always stood “by us and has done much
to promote stability and economic well-being in
Pakistan. Our recent election and the coming into
power of the new government auger extremely well
for strengthening Pakistan-Canada ties, especially
on account of the smooth democratic transition
and the promise of a better future that the present
government brings.”
CONCLUSION
Pakistan is currently at the top of political analysts’
watch list, who are deeply observing changing trends
in its political landscape, and it will even be more
scrutinized as it progresses to incorporate policies
and leaders ahead. A significant change would
surely have to be the role of Pakistan’s military,
particularly on how Pakistanis now perceive it.
“Since Osama Bin Laden was discovered in the city
of Abbottabad, not far from a military facility – the
military has lost it veneer of invincibility. This has
convinced many, though not all Pakistanis that it
would be a terrible idea to have military back in
power,” states Kugelman.
Perhaps these transforming drifts in Pakistan
are signs of a mature and informed electorate, who
realizes the importance and power of his/her right to
vote in a democratic society, especially considering
the previous unrest caused by extremists groups and
recent US drone strikes. Kugelman sums it best
delineating the future prospects of politics saying,
“When key institutions are led by new people, we
should have a somewhat better idea of Pakistan’s
future trajectory.”
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