Senate elections aren’t supposed to spring many surprises in our system. As opposed to the direct polling of the national and provincial assemblies, we’re dealing with known quantities here, not the tempestuous mood of the teeming millions, which might, at times, throw out of the way the most astute-sounding of predictions.
But at the end of the day, it is still a secret ballot and that pries the door open, if slightly, for intrigue and machinations. It’s not as if it hasn’t happened in the past. It was alleged by certain quarters that the establishment is going to get its gears in action and put a spanner in the Pakistan Muslim League’s (PML-N) plans to take over the upper house.
Well, that hasn’t quite happened. The ruling party has pretty much gotten as many votes as was expected, as did the PTI. The PPP certainly punched above its weight, not only in Sindh but also in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
The reason for the PPP’s performance could be attributed to it capitalising on the fissures in the MQM. The once mighty lords of Karachi could manage only one seat. The PPP’s good performance in KP, from where it eked out as many seats as the much larger PML-N, was unexpected but not something which could imply a tectonic change.
The whole establishment theory did seem to be true when it came to Baluchistan, where the PML-N was left out in the cold. A stark contrast in the province where it was, until recently, running the provincial government.
The province is now run by the other league. We all know what that is code for.
Speaking of the Q League, the party has now not a single legislator in the upper house, unless the independents elected from Baluchistan decide to join the party.
Could we assume that the general elections will hold, more or less, the same results?
Not quite free or fair in Baluchistan. The PTI, holding on to some of its newly acquired turfs in KP and the PML-N holding on to Punjab and the PPP flexing its muscles in Sindh.
The MQM is a party that is currently washing its dirty linen on national TV. It’s rather public spats are an unfolding drama that may not resolve itself in time for the general polls, which are right around the corner. That creates space for the PPP to swoop in on.
Lastly, a whole lot of people made a lot of money during these elections.