ISLAMABAD: Following the general elections in Pakistan held on February 9, a recent survey conducted by a renowned international research firm shed light on the public perception of the transparency of the electoral process.
The poll suggests that 54% of Pakistanis believe the election was transparent overall.
The survey, conducted by IPSOS, one of the largest research firms operating in 90 countries and employing more than 10,000 research professionals, provides an insight into public sentiment around the electoral process.
Although allegations have been made, notably by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), demanding the removal of nearly 80 seats in the National Assembly, research shows that 54% of Pakistanis perceive the elections to be transparent.
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Concerns remain, however, with 39% of respondents expressing a belief that elections were rigged during the February 8 election.
The impact of the alleged malpractices resonated most strongly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the PTI won a majority. In this province, 73% of respondents felt that the election was not fair.
The IPSOS survey, which interviewed more than 3,000 individuals across the country in a post-election assessment of transparency and electoral malpractice, shows that 3 out of 5 Pakistanis consider electoral processes to be fair and transparent. Rural residents perceived this process rather positively.
About 33% of respondents believed that the suspension of cell phone services was a wise decision, while 29% thought it was a mistake. The rest maintained a neutral stance.
Interestingly, the shutdown of mobile phone services received more favorable views from the people of Balochistan, while the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa expressed displeasure.
