Pakistan General Elections: Feb. 8

[Filuwaúrdjan]

lmao at the PTI being described as 'centrists' hahahahahahaha!

[Filuwaúrdjan]

lmao at the PTI being described as 'centrists' hahahahahahaha!

What would be a better label?

Well it's a fascist party, so conventionally we would describe it as far right. Of course that's a little odd in Pakistan where 'far right' has usually (and correctly) been the label given to the Islamists, but, of course, there can be multiple far rights. Khan was a broadly centrist liberal when he entered politics, but that was a long time ago now.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

This reminds me that I need to do an update of my big guide to Pakistan's political parties at some point, as there have been many changes since the last election.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The conviction is more likely to generate a sympathy wave for IK than hurt him but then again the election won't be free or fair.

They weren't last time either. But the thumbs will be on the scales in the opposite direction and doubtless heavier.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

They have other methods at their disposal, frequently use them and will do so again.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

There are multiple MQMs these days. None have ever claimed to be on the political Left as such, even if they do (laughably) insist that they are all liberals. Mostly they think that Pashtuns are violent barbarians, Punjabis sneaky ingrates and Sindhis dull-witted peasants, and also that protection rackets are a jolly good idea.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Not seen poll-rigging done with such thoroughgoing incompetence and failure since Mugabe.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Ah the Mexico '88 solution. A bit pathetic.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

MQM outperformed in Karachi beating out PTI.  It seems the anti-PTI vote consolidated around MQM to beat back PTI in Karachi.  Losing Karachi is a good part of the seats PTI lost relative to 2018

A reversion to the norm as much as anything else: everything was in a state of flux in Karachi then and the state was trying to hit all MQM factions hard.