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

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

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.

Mohammad Zubair Umar, a Sharif loyalist and former governor of Sindh, agreed with Hussain, saying the PML-N supremo 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?”

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”.

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”.

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.

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.

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 scoffed 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.

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.

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”.

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”.

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.

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?”

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.