Has the PTI's popularity suffered a hit given results of the NA-75 By Election?

[MenInG]

To recap:

==

The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was dealt a major blow after opposition Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) emerged victorious in the much-hyped NA-75 Daska by-election with a huge margin of over 19,000 votes on Saturday.

As per the unconfirmed and unofficial results of all 360 polling stations, PML-N candidate Nosheen Iftikhar bagged 111,220 votes against PTI’s Ali Asjad Malhi, who managed to secure 92,019 votes.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2293971/pml-n-clinches-much-hyped-daska-by-poll-with-huge-margin

==

Are we seeing a tide change in PTI's popularity now? if so what are the reasons?

 

[saeedhk]

Having been to Pakistan, PTI’s popularity is at an all-time low. Even hardcore PTI fans are disillusioned with the party’s performance and policies. The major bone of contention is inflation; I have never seen such record inflation in my life. Everything from medicine, meat, vegetables, fuel, to furniture and cement, all are up two to three folds. The average Pakistani has never been this hungry.

If the PTI has no backing from the establishment in 2023, I expect them to win around 20 to 30 seats.

 

[Mamoon]

The last 3 years has done irrevocable damage to PTI and Imran Khan.

They have lost popular support and the nation is fed up their excuses, lies and blame-shifting.

The public is done with their rona dhona and the chor daku narrative. They want results and this government has produced nothing on that front.

Imran has proved to be the most incompetent, unprepared and clueless PM in Pakistani history.

There is no plan, no vision – the government has no idea where they are heading and what they need to do.

They have destroyed each and every sector and industry. The poor people are worse off than they were under previous governments and they are not interested in the excuses and the future projections that will never be realized in their lifetimes.

This is the beginning of the end for PTI. Besides, once Imran is gone, PTI will disintegrate. It will be torn apart from the opportunist politicians that have jumped on the tabdeeli bandwagon to serve their own interests.

Few decades from now, PTI will be reduced to a mere footnote in the history of Pakistan politics as a party that made a lot of noise but failed to achieve anything.

Imran has proved to be a total failure and has not lived up the hype and expectations that he created himself.

He projected himself as a messiah and thought being the PM would be like captaining a cricket team, and the reality-check that he has received over the last 3 years has taken its toll on his mental health, hence the ridiculous statements.

PTI’s performance has been zero on all fronts – economy, foreign policy, educational, healthcare, law & order – it has been a complete disaster.

Imran has tried to use India and Modi as a distraction by making bombastic speeches and tweets on Kashmir, but the reality is that outside the social media warriors, most of whom don’t even live in Pakistan, the general public of Pakistan couldn’t be bothered about the people of Kashmir when their own lives have been made a living hell by the confused and haphazard decision-making and policies of this clueless government.

Even on the Kashmir front, Imran’s last legacy would be the Pakistani PM who couldn’t do anything when India revoked Kashmir’s special status in his tenure.

The public is not interest in this corruption, chor daku and mafia narrative when they cannot even afford the basic necessities anymore.

As far as the mafias are concerned, a new mafia pops up every few months and then we find out that the mafia were financing Imran’s election campaign. That is the reality and credibility of his anti-corruption and accountability drive. It has all been a big scam to pull wool over the eyes of the public.

This is the beginning of the end for Imran Khan and his government. They err given an opportunity to prove their worth and they couldn’t deliver.

They didn’t even learn from their flop performance in KP from 2013-18 because they were too busy slandering the opposition parties and making false accusations. They have been failing in KP for 8 years now.

By the time they got federal power, they were woefully unprepared and had no idea what they were doing or what they were supposed to do. They did not do their homework and got exposed at the federal level.

 

[sadida97]

The last 3 years has done irrevocable damage to PTI and Imran Khan.

They have lost popular support and the nation is fed up their excuses, lies and blame-shifting.

The public is done with their rona dhona and the chor daku narrative. They want results and this government has produced nothing on that front.

Imran has proved to be the most incompetent, unprepared and clueless PM in Pakistani history.

There is no plan, no vision – the government has no idea where they are heading and what they need to do.

They have destroyed each and every sector and industry. The poor people are worse off than they were under previous governments and they are not interested in the excuses and the future projections that will never be realized in their lifetimes.

This is the beginning of the end for PTI. Besides, once Imran is gone, PTI will disintegrate. It will be torn apart from the opportunist politicians that have jumped on the tabdeeli bandwagon to serve their own interests.

Few decades from now, PTI will be reduced to a mere footnote in the history of Pakistan politics as a party that made a lot of noise but failed to achieve anything.

Imran has proved to be a total failure and has not lived up the hype and expectations that he created himself.

He projected himself as a messiah and thought being the PM would be like captaining a cricket team, and the reality-check that he has received over the last 3 years has taken its toll on his mental health, hence the ridiculous statements.

PTI’s performance has been zero on all fronts – economy, foreign policy, educational, healthcare, law & order – it has been a complete disaster.

Imran has tried to use India and Modi as a distraction by making bombastic speeches and tweets on Kashmir, but the reality is that outside the social media warriors, most of whom don’t even live in Pakistan, the general public of Pakistan couldn’t be bothered about the people of Kashmir when their own lives have been made a living hell by the confused and haphazard decision-making and policies of this clueless government.

Even on the Kashmir front, Imran’s last legacy would be the Pakistani PM who couldn’t do anything when India revoked Kashmir’s special status in his tenure.

The public is not interest in this corruption, chor daku and mafia narrative when they cannot even afford the basic necessities anymore.

As far as the mafias are concerned, a new mafia pops up every few months and then we find out that the mafia were financing Imran’s election campaign. That is the reality and credibility of his anti-corruption and accountability drive. It has all been a big scam to pull wool over the eyes of the public.

This is the beginning of the end for Imran Khan and his government. They err given an opportunity to prove their worth and they couldn’t deliver.

They didn’t even learn from their flop performance in KP from 2013-18 because they were too busy slandering the opposition parties and making false accusations. They have been failing in KP for 8 years now.

By the time they got federal power, they were woefully unprepared and had no idea what they were doing or what they were supposed to do. They did not do their homework and got exposed at the federal level.

Do you believe the last noon league government was one of the best ones in the history of the country?

 

[King-Misbah]

PTI is suffering as the country is on IMF ventilators. The people responsible for putting the country on ventilators are PMLN and PPP. The PPP, PMLN thola then have the audacity to cry about price hikes. They are lower then the gutter level type of people.

 

[Mamoon]

Do you believe the last noon league government was one of the best ones in the history of the country?

They started on the right track but Imran created chaos and and caused destruction with his Azaadi March.

Apart from causing destruction and crippling the government and finding Imran a new wife, it achieved nothing positive for Pakistan and he used the APS tragedy to end the circus show because it had lost momentum by then and he needed an exit route.

Moreover, the Panama Leaks and the subsequent witch-hunt ensured that the government could not deliver as per their potential.

Had Imran respected democracy and acknowledged his defeat in 2013 like a man and would not have done his dramaybaazi on the streets which spread chaos and crippled the nation, and simply focused on his performing in KP, the country would be in a much better position today on all fronts.

The 2013 PMLN government could have been the best in Pakistan history if they were allowed to perform.

 

[UzmanBeast]

The last 3 years has done irrevocable damage to PTI and Imran Khan.

They have lost popular support and the nation is fed up their excuses, lies and blame-shifting.

The public is done with their rona dhona and the chor daku narrative. They want results and this government has produced nothing on that front.

Imran has proved to be the most incompetent, unprepared and clueless PM in Pakistani history.

There is no plan, no vision – the government has no idea where they are heading and what they need to do.

They have destroyed each and every sector and industry. The poor people are worse off than they were under previous governments and they are not interested in the excuses and the future projections that will never be realized in their lifetimes.

This is the beginning of the end for PTI. Besides, once Imran is gone, PTI will disintegrate. It will be torn apart from the opportunist politicians that have jumped on the tabdeeli bandwagon to serve their own interests.

Few decades from now, PTI will be reduced to a mere footnote in the history of Pakistan politics as a party that made a lot of noise but failed to achieve anything.

Imran has proved to be a total failure and has not lived up the hype and expectations that he created himself.

He projected himself as a messiah and thought being the PM would be like captaining a cricket team, and the reality-check that he has received over the last 3 years has taken its toll on his mental health, hence the ridiculous statements.

PTI’s performance has been zero on all fronts – economy, foreign policy, educational, healthcare, law & order – it has been a complete disaster.

Imran has tried to use India and Modi as a distraction by making bombastic speeches and tweets on Kashmir, but the reality is that outside the social media warriors, most of whom don’t even live in Pakistan, the general public of Pakistan couldn’t be bothered about the people of Kashmir when their own lives have been made a living hell by the confused and haphazard decision-making and policies of this clueless government.

Even on the Kashmir front, Imran’s last legacy would be the Pakistani PM who couldn’t do anything when India revoked Kashmir’s special status in his tenure.

The public is not interest in this corruption, chor daku and mafia narrative when they cannot even afford the basic necessities anymore.

As far as the mafias are concerned, a new mafia pops up every few months and then we find out that the mafia were financing Imran’s election campaign. That is the reality and credibility of his anti-corruption and accountability drive. It has all been a big scam to pull wool over the eyes of the public.

This is the beginning of the end for Imran Khan and his government. They err given an opportunity to prove their worth and they couldn’t deliver.

They didn’t even learn from their flop performance in KP from 2013-18 because they were too busy slandering the opposition parties and making false accusations. They have been failing in KP for 8 years now.

By the time they got federal power, they were woefully unprepared and had no idea what they were doing or what they were supposed to do. They did not do their homework and got exposed at the federal level.

I agree completely.

Kashmir was used as a scapegoat to make it seem like the government was actually working on something, and to distract citizens from an economy that grew more unstable as time progressed. The average Pakistani citizen can't give a hoot about Kashmir when our country is at such high risk of having an economic collapse.

The general population in Pakistan doesn't earn enough to outlast the growing inflation rate, and the only thing Imran Khan seems to care about is his public image by making stupid remarks and stirring controversy.

The COVID-19 Pandemic was an unfortunate circumstance, but there was always a dearth of planning in the government with what would be done. We are in so much debt at the moment, we'll become China's backyard if we're not careful. That's the other issue, taking loans and falling under international debt will harm us than do good, especially if this money is used to pay off other pre-existing debt.

Pakistan, unless it miraculously finds some lucrative natural resource, will continue to be pressed down by international debt and will not yield a fruitful economic growth. Whoever the next PM is (I'm confident it won't be Imran Khan) will have to make a very good plan to get us out of sinking waters.

 

[RajBan]

Do you believe the last noon league government was one of the best ones in the history of the country?

Being an Indian , I am not very knowledgeable about intricacies of Pakistani civil political scenario. But based on my limited understanding and reading of news, I thought the state government of Pakistani Punjab under Shahbaz Sharif was not doing a very bad job if not a great one. Maybe he could have done better in southern and rural Punjab. But do you think the current state government is better?

 

[leg-side-flick]

Has the inflation under Imran gone up a lot or was it steadily going up even under Nawaz....

 

[mazkhan]

Has the inflation under Imran gone up a lot or was it steadily going up even under Nawaz....

Its gone up under madina riasat actually rocketed that its causing a lot of problems for the average joe blogs, it was madina riasat that sold itself to the strict imf program and the riba , wait till they increase the fuel and electricity further that's one of the imf requests how it hurts the small businesses and units and agriculture

 

[Savak]

It was never going to be easy making tough political suicidal belt tightening decisions putting the long term interests of the country first and their re election chances at risk.

Will be interesting to see what happens in 2023 to both the country and the pti. So far the opposition mafia has proven that it really runs the country with all the institutions and beauracacy following its instructions inspire of a federal govt being in place

 

[leg-side-flick]

Its gone up under madina riasat actually rocketed that its causing a lot of problems for the average joe blogs, it was madina riasat that sold itself to the strict imf program and the riba , wait till they increase the fuel and electricity further that's one of the imf requests how it hurts the small businesses and units and agriculture

Thanks, I checked online, Inflation in Pakistan was in 10 to 20 % bracket from 2008 till 2012, understandbly because of global liqudity etc..

It came down and was in 4 to 8% till 2019, and now it's around 10 odd percent...

Looks high but it still doesn't mean prices will triple in 3 years, that would mean food inflation is around 30/40 %

 

[moghul]

Its not uncommon for ruling party to lose mid-term election or elections in the middle of its term. That is the time when ruling parties are not very popular , generally.

In couple of years when economy will be better and good work done by the present government will start showing results, PTI will bounce back and will win the next election with comfortable majority.

PML, just maintained its seat with a lower margin, they did not win PTI's seat. What's the big deal about it.

 

[ahmedzee]

I think it was a close content in an area that is always ruled by PML-N. So I don't think it is PTi's loss in this.
Its like saying that PTI lost in Larkana, where historically it is impossible for any party to win or even come close.

 

[Bewal Express]

They started on the right track but Imran created chaos and and caused destruction with his Azaadi March.

Apart from causing destruction and crippling the government and finding Imran a new wife, it achieved nothing positive for Pakistan and he used the APS tragedy to end the circus show because it had lost momentum by then and he needed an exit route.

Moreover, the Panama Leaks and the subsequent witch-hunt ensured that the government could not deliver as per their potential.

Had Imran respected democracy and acknowledged his defeat in 2013 like a man and would not have done his dramaybaazi on the streets which spread chaos and crippled the nation, and simply focused on his performing in KP, the country would be in a much better position today on all fronts.

The 2013 PMLN government could have been the best in Pakistan history if they were allowed to perform.

This Nooras and the PPP have created the disaster which no one can escape from. They and their partners created the mess and they and their partners have left PK bankrupt.

Let's see you run because I have these simple questions for you.

Do you think that IK was responsible for them borrowing 37bn in 5 years, do you think IK was responsible for the exports being left at 23bn and Imports at 60bn, do you think IK is responsible for them leaving Foreign exchange reserves of 8bn? do you think IK was responsible for an overvalued RP, do you think IK I responsible for making sovereign contracts with electricity companies to paid in Dollars, do you think IK is responsible for buying LNG at 25% mpre than he has negotiated, do you think IK is responsible for them failing to increase the price of electricity to pay for the high cost of electricity they negotiated.
Rather talk crap, let's hear some answers.

 

[Bewal Express]

It was never going to be easy making tough political suicidal belt tightening decisions putting the long term interests of the country first and their re election chances at risk.

Will be interesting to see what happens in 2023 to both the country and the pti. So far the opposition mafia has proven that it really runs the country with all the institutions and beauracacy following its instructions inspire of a federal govt being in place

As i said the mafia has won, they won the day YRG won the Senate election. Kaptaan has done his best. Let the ghulams decide which of the 1 sets of crooks have won the day.

 

[Bewal Express]

Its gone up under madina riasat actually rocketed that its causing a lot of problems for the average joe blogs, it was madina riasat that sold itself to the strict imf program and the riba , wait till they increase the fuel and electricity further that's one of the imf requests how it hurts the small businesses and units and agriculture

Do you think that going to the IMF was a mistake? Can we have an alternative.

 

[Bewal Express]

They started on the right track but Imran created chaos and and caused destruction with his Azaadi March.

Apart from causing destruction and crippling the government and finding Imran a new wife, it achieved nothing positive for Pakistan and he used the APS tragedy to end the circus show because it had lost momentum by then and he needed an exit route.

Moreover, the Panama Leaks and the subsequent witch-hunt ensured that the government could not deliver as per their potential.

Had Imran respected democracy and acknowledged his defeat in 2013 like a man and would not have done his dramaybaazi on the streets which spread chaos and crippled the nation, and simply focused on his performing in KP, the country would be in a much better position today on all fronts.

The 2013 PMLN government could have been the best in Pakistan history if they were allowed to perform.

What do you make of Ahsan Iqbal confession last week? I can't wait for your expert take on his confession

 

[Savak]

As i said the mafia has won, they won the day YRG won the Senate election. Kaptaan has done his best. Let the ghulams decide which of the 1 sets of crooks have won the day.

This is where i have my complaints against IK. God gave him a unique once in a life time opportunity to run and fix the country. He is blindly sitting back and blindly expecting the institutions to do their job impartially forgetting and being completely oblivious to the fact how deeply rampant corruption and bribery can be bought in this country be it bureaucrats, police officers, judges. He should have ruled like a dictator from day one. Pakistan is not a society or country where you can blindly rely on people and things to fix on its own.

There is a reason why we were once the most corrupt nation on earth and there is a reason why the opposition mafia has ruled the country for 20 years and is still practically ruling the country even though they are not in the federal government. I guarantee you if people were seeing IK doing everything he could in the time frame he had to seriously hold people accountable for the way they ran things in the country, inspite of the hardships they would have supported him.

The most common complaint i heard from people in Pakistan when i was there last November and December apart from the inflation was the fact that the pti people were calling the likes of PPP, PML N corrupt, crooks but at the same time letting them roam around scott free and not doing anything. If IK fails, it will be catastrophic for Pakistan because it will set a precedent that having an honest man as PM means nothing in a country determined to be corrupt

 

[Bewal Express]

This is where i have my complaints against IK. God gave him a unique once in a life time opportunity to run and fix the country. He is blindly sitting back and blindly expecting the institutions to do their job impartially forgetting and being completely oblivious to the fact how deeply rampant corruption and bribery can be bought in this country be it bureaucrats, police officers, judges. He should have ruled like a dictator from day one. Pakistan is not a society or country where you can blindly rely on people and things to fix on its own.

There is a reason why we were once the most corrupt nation on earth and there is a reason why the opposition mafia has ruled the country for 20 years and is still practically ruling the country even though they are not in the federal government. I guarantee you if people were seeing IK doing everything he could in the time frame he had to seriously hold people accountable for the way they ran things in the country, inspite of the hardships they would have supported him.

The most common complaint i heard from people in Pakistan when i was there last November and December apart from the inflation was the fact that the pti people were calling the likes of PPP, PML N corrupt, crooks but at the same time letting them roam around scott free and not doing anything. If IK fails, it will be catastrophic for Pakistan because it will set a precedent that having an honest man as PM means nothing in a country determined to be corrupt

I don't think he is sitting back and as his battle with the Sugar mafia shows, he is taking it too them. But you also realise that the mafia have people in each and every part of the media, the Judiciary and the bureaucracy. They are the business community and the political power brokers and they have and are throwing and spanner in the works.
Just look at the Qabza mafia and how he has dealt with them to see that he has had some notable succeses. The funny thing is that the law enforcement have had to work on Sundays as the courts(LHC)are closed and can't give Nooras " justice". How much have you read about land worth over 200bn taken back by the state.
Ultimately, only a proper a dictator can take on the mafia and use Chinese methods. It is the reason that Mushies betrayal will haunt this country forever.
IK can't beat the mafia, he needed people with him but too many have had fingers in the pie through their families and they are just waiting for him to see his 5 years out.

 

[Bewal Express]

They started on the right track but Imran created chaos and and caused destruction with his Azaadi March.

Apart from causing destruction and crippling the government and finding Imran a new wife, it achieved nothing positive for Pakistan and he used the APS tragedy to end the circus show because it had lost momentum by then and he needed an exit route.

Moreover, the Panama Leaks and the subsequent witch-hunt ensured that the government could not deliver as per their potential.

Had Imran respected democracy and acknowledged his defeat in 2013 like a man and would not have done his dramaybaazi on the streets which spread chaos and crippled the nation, and simply focused on his performing in KP, the country would be in a much better position today on all fronts.

The 2013 PMLN government could have been the best in Pakistan history if they were allowed to perform.

[MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION]
Where are you? I was expecting a long reply. Instead you have run again or you still typing. Lol ��

 

[the Great Khan]

This is where i have my complaints against IK. God gave him a unique once in a life time opportunity to run and fix the country. He is blindly sitting back and blindly expecting the institutions to do their job impartially forgetting and being completely oblivious to the fact how deeply rampant corruption and bribery can be bought in this country be it bureaucrats, police officers, judges. He should have ruled like a dictator from day one. Pakistan is not a society or country where you can blindly rely on people and things to fix on its own.

There is a reason why we were once the most corrupt nation on earth and there is a reason why the opposition mafia has ruled the country for 20 years and is still practically ruling the country even though they are not in the federal government. I guarantee you if people were seeing IK doing everything he could in the time frame he had to seriously hold people accountable for the way they ran things in the country, inspite of the hardships they would have supported him.

The most common complaint i heard from people in Pakistan when i was there last November and December apart from the inflation was the fact that the pti people were calling the likes of PPP, PML N corrupt, crooks but at the same time letting them roam around scott free and not doing anything. If IK fails, it will be catastrophic for Pakistan because it will set a precedent that having an honest man as PM means nothing in a country determined to be corrupt

I would agree with this to an extent but I think Covid really put the brakes on alot of things. People underestimate the sheer disaster the country was and is facing. Also from what i have heard and read the country was literally days away from insolvency.

I wouldnt really put too much into these results as Imran can really bring vibrancy to a campaign once he gets out there. People are frustrated we havent hung some of these crooks in the main square lol.

Imran is looking very long term and unfortunately our people are not used to long term thinking or plans.
He still has time even now to win the next election and that is now very very important. if that loud mouthed woman becomes our next OM the country is done for and we could see serious unrest. Inmho even if people have reservations they will probably give PTI another five years just to be fair to Khan.

 

[Napa]

I think it was a close content in an area that is always ruled by PML-N. So I don't think it is PTi's loss in this.
Its like saying that PTI lost in Larkana, where historically it is impossible for any party to win or even come close.

PML, just maintained its seat with a lower margin, they did not win PTI's seat. What's the big deal about it.

It is true that "PML, just maintained its seat with a lower margin" but it is not that simple.

2018: PML 101,617, PTI 61,432 and Independent (Usman Abid) 57,571
PML winning margin about 40.3K

2021: PML 111,220 and PTI 92,019
PML winning margin about 19.2K

So indeed PML's winning margin has fallen.



However, Usman Abid switched to supporting PTI. So PTI + Abid total has fallen from 159K to 92K while PML's has risen from 102K to 111K. Of course, this is not definitive because not all of Abid's voters would have switched to PTI even if he did.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

The recent by elections are not a good indicator of PTI's popularity as PDM contested the elections together. Its unlikely they will stay united by 2023, and it will be a very different scenario if you have multiple parties vying for the same seat.

As of now its either IK or Maryam in 2023.

KPK and Karachi PTI will win.
Interior Sindh PPP.
Baluchistan nationalist parties.
So it comes down to Punjab, which will either be PTI or PML N.