Vantage | Why Pak poll results are about vote against army and power of tech

More uncertainty is a surety for Pakistan, but that’s not all. This election changes many dynamics, both within Pakistan and outside. Here are three of the biggest takeaways: Number one, Pakistan’s army has failed. At least for the time being. Look at everything they did for Nawaz Sharif: they got his cases dismissed, brought him back from London, put his chief rival in jail, and delayed the vote to help him campaign. Yet the public sentiment was against them. Let’s be clear: the final results may tell a different story. But this was a vote against the Army and against its meddling in politics, and that spoils Rawalpindi’s calculations. It is because this election was supposed to be a clean slate. A chance to move beyond Imran Khan. But now, Pakistan is back to square one. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters are organising rallies and protests. Cases have been filed against 30 of them in Islamabad. Chances are, it could increase. So the polls have plunged Pakistan into more crisis. It has busted the Army’s aura of invincibility. Number two, it has shown the power of technology in elections. Especially in artificial intelligence, Imran Khan was arrested in August last year. Meaning he couldn’t campaign. His party was also barred from holding rallies. Pakistani media were banned from giving him airtime. Now, normally, that would kill a political party. But not the PTI. They turned to technology. Imran Khan used AI to deliver speeches. His party held online rallies. They overcame physical restrictions with digital outreach. In fact, their social media game was on point. The PTI has more than 9.8 million followers on X. The Pakistan Muslim League has just 2.5 million. It’s pretty active, too. Whether it’s posting videos from polling stations, reaction videos from leaders, or even foreign media analysis, The PTI’s online campaign was very Gen Z. It could be a template for other leaders and countries. Number three, the external dynamics. What does this election mean for India and the world? It’s a tough one, for starters; Pakistan is a nuclear power. It’s also home to multiple terror groups. So the instability here is worrying. That’s the biggest concern for Western countries.

That’s also why they back the Army. To make sure the nukes are safe. But this election will put them in a tough spot. On the one hand, the Army is their ally; on the other, the rigging is blatant. So what will Western countries do? The US hasn’t criticised the internet shutdown. It says it was tracking the curbs. Whatever that means! Let’s hope this is a wake-up call. Western countries have long been guilty of backing Pakistan. They’ve armed Pakistan’s army and bailed out the government every time it has messed up, ignoring its support for terrorism. Maybe now is the time to shut the tap and realise what Western money is used for in Pakistan. It doesn’t reach the people, for sure. Instead, it’s used to enrich the Army—to crack down on voters and subvert democracy. Will the US impose sanctions on Islamabad for this? We cannot be sure, as the Americans forget democracy when it comes to Pakistan. Just think back to the elections in Bangladesh. Do you remember the pressure from Washington? The scathing crticism! But with Pakistan, it’s all very businesslike. So Western capitals need to take a hard look at their policies because the current one is wrong, and India too needs to be alert. A clean slate may have triggered hopes of a reset, but now all bets are off. Pakistan’s army looks weak and cornered. That also makes them dangerous. We also can’t rule out domestic unrest. Imran Khan’s party isn’t the only one complaining of rigging. Most opposition parties feel robbed. What if they hit the streets in protest? What if terror groups capitalise on the unrest? These are all real possibilities. Of course, there is nothing India can do about it. The only option is to wait and watch.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_’s views._ Read all the  Latest News ,  Trending News ,  Cricket News ,  Bollywood News , India News  and  Entertainment News  here. Follow us on  Facebook,  Twitter and  Instagram.