PATTERN OF VOTING IN RURAL AREAS AND ITS IMPACT ON PAKISTAN AND

DEMOCRACY

Pattern of voting in rural areas and its impact on Pakistan and democracy
Forman Christian College
(A chartered university)
Malik Asad Ali
16-10487
PLSC 335
Maam Shahkila

PATTERN OF VOTING IN RURAL AREAS AND ITS IMPACT ON PAKISTAN AND

DEMOCRACY

Abstract
A body of political scholars is in agreement regarding the significance of political culture in
determining the process of democratization in any state; Saeed (1998), Nasreen (2008), Tessler
(2009), Ayesha (1995). Almond (1966)- documented a number of empirical research on the
subject.
The study would seek to find out the nexus between political culture and growth of democracy
by taking Pakistan as a case study. In pursuit of this objective analysis following questions would
be addressed:
Why democracy has not taken roots in Pakistan?
What have been obstacles in the way of promoting norms?
Why Pakistans political culture has been undemocratic in its values, orientations and political
attitudes?
The research is descriptive, historical and analytical in its nature. It will undertake to describe the
political culture of Pakistan in context of countrys civic culture. Prior to this determinants of
democratic political culture would be judged in general and Pakistans political experience would
be analyzed under the light of those determinants accordingly.

Introduction

PATTERN OF VOTING IN RURAL AREAS AND ITS IMPACT ON PAKISTAN AND

DEMOCRACY

While emphasizing upon the importance of political culture in establishment of democracy. J.S
Mill, the modern political thinker aptly remarked that democracy cant work where people are
too unruly, where parochial interests dominate the National interests and where desire to govern
others demonstrate the desire to govern oneself. This assertion simply implies that all the
components of political society, i.e. public, political elite and public administration need to be
more democratic while participating in political activities process of decision making. Hence a
democratic society is indispensable for a democratic political set-up.
There is no second opinion about the legitimacy which democracy has gained globally as system
of governance. Almost all the states, particularly in post 1990s era , have made transitions
towards democracy as a political dispensation: but no state can claim to be democratic out
rightly. It means that democracy lies above the procedural formalities and is perfectly reflected in
certain norms, values, attitudes and behavior.
Pakistans unhappy experience with democracy rereads that the real threat to the growth of
democracy lies in its socio-cultural set-up. Pakistans political culture remains devoid of all those
norms, values and attitudes which are considered as imperative for the consolidation of
democracy. (Saeed, 1998) cited; There is no gainsaying that cultural and structural conditions
weigh heavily against the processes and institutions in Pakistan(p;1) the undemocratic political
culture of Pakistan can be attributed to its history, society and religion.
The investigation of governmental issues and political conduct of Pakistan has been summed up
by the outside and indigenous researchers with their specific viewpoint without giving
observational perception aside from a few. Governmental issues is the indication of political
movement that had been the result of political will and it will peep into the social setup to watch

PATTERN OF VOTING IN RURAL AREAS AND ITS IMPACT ON PAKISTAN AND

DEMOCRACY

that how the voters are being prepared and accepted into political qualities. The topic of judging
the perception of distinctive researchers will be assessed in the standard of new advanced
advancements where target reality exists and topic changes. The greater part of the researchers
have given their clearing clarifications that voters of Pakistan are not develop enough in their
voting choices. It will be dissected that how they have finish up their perceptions and what are
the parameters in which they have been voting to put forth the expressions. Sharief-ul-Mujahid
to Andrew Wilder all has given their perception about the electing conduct of Pakistan's voters
that is more graphic and informative. They communicated the general highlights of electing talk
without behavioral investigation. In this research paper it has been dissected that what sort of
examination routines and hypothetical reason have been employed by the sociology scientist in
Pakistan to judge the discretionary conduct of voters. Moreover the impact of voting criteria has
been highlighted thoroughly in this paper.

Political culture in general:

PATTERN OF VOTING IN RURAL AREAS AND ITS IMPACT ON PAKISTAN AND

DEMOCRACY

A political culture is a set of attitudes and practices held by a people that shapes their political
behavior. It includes moral judgments, political myths, beliefs, and ideas about what makes for a
good society.
While democracy requires attention to structural prerequisites including a parliamentary
system of government, regular elections, a strong judiciary ensuring checks and balances, and
smooth relations between civilian and military institutions of the state it also requires a
political culture that is conducive to its consolidation. In other words, for a democracy to
institutionalize and then consolidate, the beliefs and values of ordinary citizens count.
Pakistan: A case in sight
There exists number of explanations to describe the weakness of democratic practices in
Pakistan. Some scholars refer to the delayed constitutions making while others point to the
unprincipled political leadership as the factors which undermined the growth of democracy in the
country. But parallel to these narratives. There is profound scholarship which gives cultural
explanations of undemocratic political in Pakistan. Undemocratic political culture of Pakistan
has its origin in pre-partition era where Muslim league failed to prove itself as an institution
building body.
Secondly, it could not prove itself as an organized body with its roots down among the people;
instead Muslim league was a pure elitist party rather a forum for public interests articulation.
Thirdly, as compared to crisis Muslim league lacked the experience of freedom fighters. Hence,
reminded short of constructing a vision of governess in post-independence era. Then in the
context of early problems, Pakistan faced existential threats which made it a security state. Thus
political leaders persuade or adopt policies that strengthened authoritarian tendencies rather than

PATTERN OF VOTING IN RURAL AREAS AND ITS IMPACT ON PAKISTAN AND

DEMOCRACY

promote democratic norms, flout rule of law and defy tolerance of any political opposition
(Saied) 3.
Besides this, early death of Jinnah created the leadership vacuum which led to the struggle for
power among political elated rise of authoritarianism accordingly politicians failed to establish
peoples faith in democracy due to lack of consensus and bargaining over issues of national
interests. This reflected clear disharmony between pre-partition aspirations for democratic ideals
and authoritarian reality.
Pakistan has striven at least in the political rhetoric provided by both military and civilian
leaders, democracy, liberalism, freedom of expressions, inclusiveness of minorities, even
secularism but in practice Pakistan has continued to drift towards increasingly brittle
authoritarianism, religious extremism and intolerance of minorities-both Muslims and nonMuslims (Kalia,p:1)
The whole political history of Pakistan depicts a picture where in democratic values like,
accommodation, bargaining, tolerance for opposite views and consensus on national issues
remain unfound.

Civic culture of Pakistan give rise to political culture for democracy:

The term civic culture refers to all those values, attitudes and norms which are commonly shared
by the members of a society to achieve common ends. In other words, civic culture is the name
of particular way of living of individuals in a particular society- while political culture is that part

PATTERN OF VOTING IN RURAL AREAS AND ITS IMPACT ON PAKISTAN AND

DEMOCRACY

of civic culture which influences the process of decision making- so political culture refers to
psychological orientation towards social objects (Almond and Verba)
Having established the relationship between civic culture and democratization it becomes
imperative to make an objective analysis of Pakistans civic culture and its impact on political
decision making accordingly-social studies of Pakistan give a picture of versatile civic culture
divided on multiple lines.
Besides inheriting a undemocratic historical legacy, Pakistan succeeded to a diversified society
as an impediment in the way of popular democracy. British bequeathed a state to Pakistan as
marked by conflicting identities for being divided on ethno-regional, rural-urban, miss-elite, richpoor, conservative-liberal and nationalist-separatist and on many more lines.
The overlap of Pakistani, regional and religious identities was aptly articulated by Pashtun
Nationalist Wali khan when he declared that he had been a Pashtun for 4,000 years, a Muslim for
1400 years and a Pakistani for 40 years. (Talbot Ian, Pakistan: A modern history, p; 1)
For a society, to be divided on many lines is not as much issue as it becomes when these
divisions are reflected in political decisions making at any social levels: this is what happened
with Pakistan language and religion, rather than providing for panacea for unity in a plural
society opened a Pandora box of conflicting identities. (Talbot)
In the context of Almond categorization of political orientation; i.e. Parochial, subject and
participant, Pakistans political culture seems to be dominated by parochial orientation followed
by the subject one and in the last comes participant orientation.

PATTERN OF VOTING IN RURAL AREAS AND ITS IMPACT ON PAKISTAN AND

DEMOCRACY

The mass mobilization in Pakistan is largely motivated by ethno-regional, rural-urban, masselite, and other above mentioned factors which lead to sort of political partition in deviance with
democratic norms of political vigilance, evaluative participation and rule of general will.
According to the Gallup Survey, for instance, in general elections of 2013, only 26% of the
masses voted as motivated by factor of national development while majority remained influenced
by other socio-economic factors.
The Gallup survey also shows the intensity of regionalism in deterring the growth of democracy
which claims to represent national interests being above all basis. It is challenging that in 2013
elections 82% of the masses belonging from Punjabi political elite. In the similar way interior
Sindh proved to be exclusive vote bank of PPP which gained 47% of votes from interior Sindh
and rest of 53% from all over the country.
This clearly indicates that to what extent regional factors count in public participation in decision
making. As we have already mentioned that democracy is a system of governance where in
national interests are given precedence over personal interests, popular will dominates individual
will and consensus on national issues is constructed through national evaluation. But in case of
Pakistan it becomes difficult to work on these pre-requisites of democracy owing to its multiculturalism. So, it would not be wrong to say that uncertainty about consolidation of democracy
in Pakistan lies in its social setup. (Saeed)
Methodology
This research paper has used primary research methodology via questionnaires. 100
questionnaires were given to people in rural areas and their results have been calculated. The
trend of casting voting has been the same for a very long time. The total no. of voting quota

PATTERN OF VOTING IN RURAL AREAS AND ITS IMPACT ON PAKISTAN AND

DEMOCRACY

usually dont vote only an average no. of people usually 50% come and cast vote. It has also
been observed that people often cast vote to those candidates who dont have merit rather they
give facilitates and through personal benefits they are given vote. The percentage of such people
is 80%. It has been calculated that 90% of people do normally know all the candidates but they
only give vote to the candidate that has been selected by the head of the family or baradri.
Normally 80% of the candidates are well aware of the problems persisting in their areas. 90% of
the voters give vote to that candidate who has personal affiliation with their baradries and
families. The percentage of votes casted by female has been very low and general trend is that
they only cast vote to candidate whom their families or baradries support. Yes, another aspect is
that the trend of casting votes has been on the basis of clan preference and the calculated
percentage is 95%. Sectarian grounds are also another issue, people usually vote on sectarian
basis and 85% of people do cast like this. The religious pir also plays a vital role in changing the
pattern of voting. His little effort can change the fate of the voting scheme. Since people in
Pakistan give priority to religion and feel it a sacred duty to obey and respect religious leaders
therefore 95% of the people are impacted by pirs and change their candidates. 80% of people
have been observing to be affected by political pressure. Emotional blackmailing by politicians
can change their mindset and they tend to change their selection of candidate they have
previously been supporting. The trend of supporting party is very low in rural areas, instead they
support and cast vote on personal affiliation that is calculated to be 75%. Yes another aspect has
been media exposure. They impact in the same way as politicians do. The media has the power to
change peoples perspective about voting and their efforts seem fruitful when the results were
soon as they can make any party or candidate wins at any point in time in election tenure. The
percentage of this has been estimated to be 60%. 40% of people think that voting patterns are

PATTERN OF VOTING IN RURAL AREAS AND ITS IMPACT ON PAKISTAN AND

DEMOCRACY

changed if the senior leader comes to visit villages and towns to ask people to vote their selected
candidate.

Conclusion
The overall result has been seen to be astray from democratic grounds. People are not in
harmony as their old mindsets are still not accepting that the trends of electing fair government
can take place. The results show that it is the influence of their baradries that they cast vote to
only a specified candidate without even thinking that what effect would the candidate have on
the government and would he or she be perfect for ruling a country. That is something which is

PATTERN OF VOTING IN RURAL AREAS AND ITS IMPACT ON PAKISTAN AND

DEMOCRACY

still lacking and only awareness among people can solve this issue and help have a democratic
government therefore so far no democracy is seen until the parameters of true leadership is
witnessed by people and the trend of selecting candidate is varied.

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DEMOCRACY
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Democracy and Authoritarianism in South Asia: A Comparative and Historical

Perspective by Dr Ayesah Jalal