Democracy is a form of government in which the people have the power to choose their representatives and to hold them accountable for their actions. It is also a value system that respects human rights, the rule of law, and the diversity of opinions and interests. Democracy is essential for the development and prosperity of any nation, as it ensures the participation and inclusion of all segments of society in  decision-making and policy-making processes.

Pakistan, a country of over 200 million people, held its 16th general elections on February 8, 2024, amid a tense and polarized political environment. The elections were widely seen as a test of the country's fragile democracy, which has been marred by frequent military interventions and allegations of corruption and rigging. The main contenders in the elections were the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N), led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was ousted in 2022 on corruption charges; the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the son of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated in 2007; and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), founded by former cricket star Imran Khan, who was the largest party in the 2018 elections but was stripped of its electoral symbol and barred from politics for five years by the Supreme Court.

Pakistan is a country that has a long and turbulent history of democratic struggles and transitions. Since its independence in 1947, Pakistan has experienced several periods of military rule and civilian governments, with frequent interruptions and disruptions. The current democratic system in Pakistan is facing many challenges, such as corruption, nepotism, violence, extremism, poverty, inequality, and external interference. These challenges undermine the credibility and the legitimacy of the democratic institutions and processes, and erode the trust and the confidence of people in the democracy.

The elections were widely criticized by the opposition parties and some international observers as being rigged in favor of the PML-N by the military establishment, which has a history of meddling in the country's politics. They claimed that the military harassed and intimidated the PTI and its supporters, and favored the PML-N by manipulating the electronic voting machines, censoring the media, and influencing the judiciary. They demanded a re-counting of votes and a verification of the voters' thumb impressions.

However, despite these allegations, the military played a positive role in ensuring the smooth and peaceful conduct of the elections, and in facilitating the democratic transition of power. The military deployed over 300,000 troops across the country to provide security and maintain law and order during the polling day. The establishment also helped the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in transporting and storing the ballot boxes and the electronic voting machines. The military also assisted the ECP in resolving any technical glitches and complaints that arose during the voting process.

It showed restraint and neutrality in dealing with the post-election scenario and respected the mandate of the people. The military did not interfere in the formation of the government and accepted the results announced by the ECP. The military leadership expressed its readiness to work with the new government for the sake of the country's stability and prosperity and urged the opposition parties to accept the verdict of the people and to resolve their grievances through legal and constitutional means.

The military's positive role in the recent general elections of Pakistan has been appreciated by many domestic and foreign observers, who have hailed it as a sign of the maturity and professionalism of the institution. It has also demonstrated its commitment to the democratic process and its respect for  civilian supremacy and accountability. The resilience and functioning of military institutions during GE-24 proved that it is not a hindrance, but a facilitator of democracy in Pakistan.

To fully ripe the fruit of democracy, Pakistan needs to adopt the following changes:-

• Introducing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to reduce the chances of fraud, manipulation, and human error in the voting process.
• Enabling e-voting for overseas Pakistanis to ensure their participation and representation in the elections.
• Implementing biometric identification of voters to verify their identity and prevent multiple or fake voting.
• Finishing the delimitation exercise in constituencies based on population to ensure fair and equal representation of the people.
• Strengthening the independence and capacity of the ECP and the election tribunals to conduct and adjudicate the elections in transparently and impartialy.
• Improving the quality and accuracy of the computerized electoral rolls to eliminate the discrepancies and errors in the voter lists.
• Enhancing the political awareness and education of the voters, especially the women, the youth, and the marginalized groups, to increase their turnout and engagement in the electoral process.

Iqra Awan is a Research Fellow at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad and can be reached at iqraawann18@gmail.com