Pakistan

The International Republican Institute (IRI) has been engaging political parties from the government and the opposition in Pakistan since 2005, focusing on internal democracy, better internal and external communications and issue-based policy development. IRI public opinion polling helps identify public priorities making parties better equipped to respond to the demands of the Pakistani people.

With Pakistan’s transition from military to civilian rule complete, IRI is currently focused on the ongoing need to formulate legislative priorities and improve communications between political parties and the electorate, government and citizens and local officials and national level party leadership.

Public Opinion Research

Since 2002, IRI has used public opinion research to inform all aspects of its Pakistan programming. Nine national surveys have generated data on the strengths and weaknesses of each party and the concerns of the electorate. Public opinion research, both qualitative and quantitative, is used to assist parties with policy and message development, strategy and implementation. In each poll the parties are encouraged to add questions that allow them to understand how to appeal to voters more effectively.

Following each poll, IRI provides technical trainings on the conduct of public opinion polling and how to collect, analyze and apply the information gained from the polls. IRI sponsored poll briefings and other trainings help Pakistan’s elected officials, party activists and other stakeholders understand constituent needs and ultimately build internal democracy within their organizations.

Political Party Development

To complement the public opinion polling, IRI conducts political party development trainings. IRI sponsored trainings focus on issues ranging from party organizational structures and decision-making procedures to use of media and information technology. These trainings help party leaders effectively communicate their policy platforms in a manner that demonstrates the party’s attention to the public’s top concerns.

In 2007, IRI held campaign schools throughout the country to work with parties and candidates vying for political office on communications and message development, voter identification and outreach and get-out-the-vote techniques. The campaign schools assisted party leadership and their candidates in designing an integrated national campaign plan, fundraising and creating and strengthening campaign communications systems between the local and national party branches. The workshops focused on message development and linked campaigns to issues of local concern to voters.

A primary cause of voter distrust is the failure of political leaders to address citizen concerns and deliver on promises made during the election period. Post-election assistance is focused delivering on campaign promises by addressing voter concerns and communicating issue-oriented policy agendas to the electorate. IRI’s current work builds on election related programming by working with the parties, both at the local and national level, to strengthen their ability to identify legislative priorities, draft legislation and build coalitions to achieve legislative priorities.

Civilian politics in Pakistan has historically been marked by corruption, inefficiency and confrontation between various institutions. In 1999, General Pervez Musharraf seized power by military coup. Despite the threat to democratic values and practices posed by military rule, Pakistan’s established political parties have failed to successfully reform on their own accord. Political parties are seen as personality driven and disconnected from the electorate, with little public awareness of party platforms and little faith that the parties can help solve the most pressing problems facing the country.

Over the past two years, critical events in Pakistan have given the parties another chance to prove themselves to the electorate. This can be attributed to the successful efforts of opposition parties to seize upon growing discontent with the previous military government. The sacking of the Supreme Court Chief Justice, the subsequent imposition of emergency rule with its ban on the media and political rallies and the crackdown on lawyers, civil society actors and opposition political leaders became a rallying point not only for lawyers but also for the political parties.

On February 18, 2008, Pakistan held general elections in which the public handed the ruling party a resounding defeat. Mounting public dissatisfaction with President Musharraf, coupled with the assassination of, Benazir Bhutto, in late 2007, and Musharraf’s resignation in August 2008, led to the election of Asif Ali Zardari in September 2008.

If they are to succeed, the new Pakistani government must capitalize on its electoral mandate by addressing immediate concerns such as jobs, housing, clean water and education, and also by initiating a program of institutional reforms and policies that can help Pakistan address systemic problems like corruption.

Political Overview

Chief of State: President Asif Ali Zardari

Type of Government: federal republic

Suffrage: universal, age 18

Elections Calendar

Program Overview

Focus of Program: political parties strengthening

Funding Source: National Endowment for Democracy and U.S. Department of State