Advice of journalists, anchors, analysts to PML-N: ‘Vote Ko Izzat Do’

Renowned media figures, analysts urge Nawaz Sharif to submit to mandate of winners and concede defeat

Former prime minister and PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif has drawn flak for what his party called his “victory speech” as leading journalists, TV anchorpersons, politicians, and analysts advised him to submit to the mandate of the winners and concede defeat if he really believes in the “sanctity of vote”.

Senior anchor and journalist Syed Talat Hussain advised the patriarch of the Sharif family to “say not to what is not” his if he really cares about his political legacy.

“The 2024 polls have produced a poisoned apple for Nawaz Sharif. Biting it will only trigger a sleeping political death. The only path to long-term survival is to accept the voice of the people, take what is legitimately his and say no to what is not,” he wrote on microblogging site “X”, formerly Twitter.

The 2024 polls have produced a poisoned apple for Nawaz Sharif. Biting it will only trigger a sleeping political death. The only path to longterm survival is to accept the voice of the people, take what is legitimately his and say no to what is not.

— Syed Talat Hussain (@TalatHussain12) February 9, 2024

He also laughed off the victory speech of Nawaz. “How awkward it is to deliver a celebration speech when there is nothing to celebrate,” he wrote in another post.

How awkward it is to deliver a celebration speech when there is nothing to celebrate. pic.twitter.com/quor3grNeN

— Syed Talat Hussain (@TalatHussain12) February 9, 2024

Mohammad Zubair Umar, a Sharif loyalist and former governor of Sindh, agreed with Hussain, saying the PML-N founder should concede defeat gracefully. “The beauty of democracy lies in accepting defeat. What kind of approach is it to try to govern by manipulating the numbers?”

ڈیموکریسی کی خوبصورتی یہی ہے کہ ہار تسلیم کریں۔ یہ کون سا طریقہ ہوتا ہے کہ آپ دو نمبری کر کے حکومت کرنے لگ جائیں: زبیر عمر pic.twitter.com/qUvoyyTwNf

— PTI (@PTIofficial) February 9, 2024

Another PML-N leader, who appears to have fallen from grace with the Sharifs, told his leadership to “honour the vote” – something Nawaz Sharif had built his earlier political narrative on. “People's opinion and mandate should be respected – Power is a transient thing – This is the time to honour the vote,” Asif Kirmani wrote on “X”.

عوام کی رائے اور مینڈیٹ کا احترام کیا جانا چاہئیے - اقتدار آنی جانی چیز ھے - یہی وقت ووٹ کو عزت دینے کا ھے !

— Dr. Syed Asif Kirmani (@KirmaniAsif) February 9, 2024

Some even said that defeat was written large on the faces of the Sharifs when they emerged to deliver the so-called victory speech. “That really wasn’t a victory speech by Nawaz Sharif. That was a stealth concession speech,” political analyst Mosharraf Zaidi wrote on “X”.

That really wasn’t a victory speech by Nawaz Sharif.

That was a stealth concession speech.

— Mosharraf Zaidi (@mosharrafzaidi) February 9, 2024

Foreign affairs expert Dr Huma Baqai said that the election results have established that PTI is a political reality and everyone should admit that. “The verdict on Pakistan’s elections is now global, nothing worked… PTI is a political reality, perhaps also the political face of Pakistan, the people have spoken, back off gracefully for once, the state can’t afford more experiments,” she wrote in an “X” post.

The verdict on 🇵🇰elections is now global , nothing worked … PTI is a political reality ,perhaps also the political face of 🇵🇰, the people have spoken , back off gracefully for once , the state can’t afford more experiments ….

— Huma Baqai (@_baqai) February 8, 2024

Senior journalist and TV anchor Rauf Klasra wrote that the PTI has performed well despite all challenges. For national security and political stability, Nawaz Sharif should learn from Saad Rafique, concede defeat, and let Asif Zardari and Imran Khan form an alliance and govern together.

نواز شریف کو اسٹیبلشمنٹ کے کندھوں پر بیٹھ کر وزیراعظم ہاوس پہنچننے کا فیصلہ لے ڈوبا کہ وہ تو بنے بنائے وزیراعظم ہیں۔دوسری جانب عمران خان کو لوگوں نے ایک ایسے victim یا مظلوم کے طور پر دیکھا جو اپنے سے بڑی اور طاقتور قوتوں خلاف اکیلا لڑ رہا تھا۔ مقامی سے لے کر عالمی طاقتتیں خلاف…

— Rauf Klasra (@KlasraRauf) February 9, 2024

Another leading TV anchor and political analyst Mazhar Abbas agreed with Klasra, saying the PTI has created a history. “PTI has created history against all odds and it is time for all democrats to accept it,” he wrote on his verified “X” handle.

Senior analyst and TV anchor Ejaz Haider scoff at the PML-N’s victory speech despite its dismal performance in the elections. “This election ‘victory’ for PMLN reminds me of Abhinandan Varthaman's Vir Chakra for shooting down a ghost F16. It's still time for [PML] N to refuse to carry this cross. That would be honourable,” he wrote on the microblogging site.

this election "victory" for PMLN reminds me of Abhinandan Varthaman's Vir Chakra for shooting down a ghost F16.
it's still time for N to refuse to carry this cross. that would be honourable.

— EH (@ejazhaider) February 9, 2024

Lawyer and TV anchor Asad Rahim Khan advised the “riggers” to let go, and for the elected representatives to come together. “Rigging it makes no difference: the moral victory is overwhelming. Not a soul will believe Salman Akram Raja lost to that glorified sugar cartel, nor that Dr. Yasmin’s results make numerical sense. Best for the riggers to let go, and for civilian elected reps to come together, he wrote in an “X” post.

Rigging it makes no difference: the moral victory is overwhelming.

Not a soul will believe Salman Akram Raja lost to that glorified sugar cartel, nor that Dr. Yasmin’s results make numerical sense.

Best for the riggers to let go, and for civilian elected reps to come together.

— Asad Rahim Khan (@AsadRahim) February 9, 2024

TV talk-show host Nadeem Malik also advised all political parties to give dignity to the vote so that uncertainty ends.  “Respect the candidates of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf who have won mandates. The Supreme Court should consider PTI's plea and return the party symbol, so that it can function as a parliamentary party and avoid horse-trading. Give dignity to the vote so that uncertainty ends and the path forward becomes clear,” Malik wrote on “X”.

تحریک انصاف کے جیتنے والے امیدواروں کو جو مینڈیٹ ملا ہے، اس کو احترام کریں۔

پی ٹی آئی کے بلے کا نشان سپریم کورٹ اپیل سن کر انہیں واپس دے تاکہ یہ اپنی پارلیمانی پارٹی بنا سکیں اور ہارس ٹریڈنگ نہ ہو۔

ووٹ کو عزت دیں تاکہ انتشار ختم ہو اور آگے بڑھنے کا راستہ نظر آنا شروع ہو۔…

— Nadeem Malik 🇵🇰 (@nadeemmalik) February 9, 2024

Mosharraf Zaidi also pointed to glaring irregularities in the electoral process which have raised serious questions on the transparency of the democratic exercise.  “Some of the splits between national and provincial results beggar belief. The manner of the results manipulation seems to be very specifically targeted. Too early to say how, but this is historic levels of incompetence by ECP,” he wrote on his verified handle on “X”.

Some of the splits between national and provincial results beggar belief.

The manner of the results manipulation seems to be very specifically targeted.

Too early to say how, but this is historic levels of incompetence by ECP.

— Mosharraf Zaidi (@mosharrafzaidi) February 9, 2024

TV anchor Maria Memon claimed there was a massive manipulation in the election results. “We have unlocked a new achievement level where the lead, which was between 50,000-60,000, was changed overnight,” she said while speaking in a TV talk-show.

ہم نے ایک نیا achievement level unlock کردیا ہے کہ جہاں 50-60 ہزار کی لیڈ تھی وہ راتوں رات بدل گئی۔ ماریہ میمن pic.twitter.com/BWQj6wdJqF

— вıłαł иαѕιя ツ (@BilalNasirPTI) February 9, 2024

Leading anchor Hamid Mir believes this manipulated election would hurt the democratic credentials of Pakistan. “The polling concluded at 5pm yesterday, and 18 hours have passed since then, yet the complete election results have not been announced. Bringing out the results by 10am today was the responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan, which has failed miserably. Who is responsible for tarnishing Pakistan's reputation worldwide?"

کل شام پانچ بجے پولنگ ختم ہوئی 18 گھنٹے گذر گئے مکمل انتخابی نتائج نہیں آئے آج صبح 10 بجے تک نتائج سامنے لانا الیکشن کمیشن کی ذمہ داری تھی الیکشن کمیشن مکمل طور پر ناکام ہو چکا ہے پوری دنیا میں پاکستان کو بدنام کرنے کا ذمہ دار کون ہے؟ #Election2024

— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) February 9, 2024

Meanwhile, another top TV anchor Kamran Khan advised the political leadership to let the people decide their fate. “If we are a democracy, then let the people decide. If it was possible, they have already done it. Now, it's over. This was the sincere request of a true and committed Pakistani. The rest is up to you," he wrote on his verified “X” handle.

ریاست پاکستان سے ہاتھ جوڑ کر دل کی گہرائیوں سے گزارش ہے کہ اس سیاسی قوت کے لئے جو ریاستی قوت سے ریزہ ریزہ PTI کو اس کا نام نشان حتی کہ انتخابی نشان بلاٌ پاکستان کی تاریخ کے عدالتی ریکارڈ گویا عمران خان کو پانچ دن میں تین سزائیں جس میں عدت میں نکاح کی ناقابل یقین ریکارڈ سزا بھی…

— Kamran Khan (@AajKamranKhan) February 9, 2024