2013 Pakistani general election

2013 Pakistani general election
Saad Ali Khan Pakistan · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Election name	2013 Pakistani general election
Country	Pakistan
Type	parliamentary
Previous election	2008 Pakistani general election
Previous year	2008
Next election	2018 Pakistani general election
Next year	2018

2013 Pakistani general election was a significant event in the History of Pakistan, marking a transition of power from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N). The election was held on May 11, 2013, with Nawaz Sharif of the PML-N emerging as the winner, supported by Shahbaz Sharif and Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. The election was also notable for the participation of Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, as well as the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) led by Altaf Hussain and Farooq Sattar.

Background

The 2008 Pakistani general election had brought the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to power, with Asif Ali Zardari as the President of Pakistan and Yousaf Raza Gillani as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. However, the PPP's term was marked by controversy, including the Memogate scandal and the Raymond Davis incident, which involved United States CIA operative Raymond Allen Davis and Lahore High Court. The Supreme Court of Pakistan, led by Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, played a significant role in shaping the country's politics, including the Disqualification of Nawaz Sharif and the Contempt of court case against Yousaf Raza Gillani. The Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N), led by Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, was a major opposition party, along with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led by Imran Khan and Javed Hashmi.

Election Campaign

The election campaign was marked by intense competition between the major parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The PML-N campaigned on a platform of economic development and good governance, with Nawaz Sharif promising to address the country's energy crisis and improve the economy, as outlined in the Pakistan Muslim League (N)'s Manifesto of Pakistan Muslim League (N). The PTI, on the other hand, focused on anti-corruption and social justice, with Imran Khan promising to create a Naya Pakistan (New Pakistan) and eliminate corruption, as stated in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Manifesto of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. The PPP, led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari, campaigned on a platform of preserving democracy and promoting social welfare, as outlined in the Pakistan Peoples Party's Manifesto of Pakistan Peoples Party. Other parties, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), also participated in the election, with Altaf Hussain and Syed Munawar Hasan leading their respective parties.

Conduct of the Election

The election was conducted by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), led by Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim and Justice (retd) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani. The ECP took steps to ensure the transparency and fairness of the election, including the introduction of a new Voter verification system and the deployment of Pakistan Army troops to maintain security, as ordered by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The election was observed by domestic and international observers, including the European Union (EU) and the Commonwealth of Nations, with Catherine Ashton and Kamalesh Sharma leading their respective delegations. Despite some reports of irregularities and violence, the election was largely peaceful, with Punjab Police and Sindh Police playing a key role in maintaining law and order.

Results

The results of the election showed a clear victory for the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N), which won 166 seats in the National Assembly of Pakistan. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged as the second-largest party, winning 35 seats, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) won 42 seats. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) won 24 seats, and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) won 3 seats. Nawaz Sharif was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Pakistan on June 5, 2013, with Mamnoon Hussain as the President of Pakistan and Sardar Ayaz Sadiq as the Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan. The election results were largely accepted by the parties, although some, including the PTI, alleged irregularities and demanded a recount, as stated by Imran Khan and Javed Hashmi.

Aftermath

The aftermath of the election saw the formation of a new government, with Nawaz Sharif as the Prime Minister of Pakistan and Shahbaz Sharif as the Chief Minister of Punjab. The new government faced several challenges, including the War in North-West Pakistan and the Energy crisis in Pakistan, which required the assistance of China and the United States. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and other opposition parties continued to protest against the election results, with Imran Khan and Javed Hashmi leading the protests. The Supreme Court of Pakistan, led by Justice (retd) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani and Nasir-ul-Mulk, played a key role in addressing the election disputes and ensuring the stability of the government, as seen in the Prime Minister of Pakistan v. Chairman, Senate of Pakistan case.

Controversies

The election was marred by several controversies, including allegations of rigging and irregularities, as stated by Imran Khan and Javed Hashmi. The PTI and other opposition parties alleged that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had failed to ensure the transparency and fairness of the election, and demanded a recount, as ordered by Justice (retd) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani. The MQM and other parties also alleged that the PML-N had engaged in vote-buying and other forms of electoral malpractice, as stated by Altaf Hussain and Farooq Sattar. The election also saw violence and intimidation, particularly in Karachi and Peshawar, with Taliban and other militant groups targeting candidates and voters, as reported by BBC News and Al Jazeera. Despite these challenges, the election marked an important milestone in Pakistan's democratic transition, with Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif playing a key role in shaping the country's future, as seen in the Pakistan Muslim League (N)'s Manifesto of Pakistan Muslim League (N). Category: Elections in Pakistan