ISLAMABAD, July 21 (Alliance News): A new nationwide survey shows that an overwhelming majority of Pakistanis believe democracy is essential for the country’s stability and development, even though many remain dissatisfied with the current democratic system.
The survey, conducted by the Institute for Public Opinion Research (IPOR) and cited by The News, polled over 1,000 people from across the country. It found that 89% of respondents supported democracy, while only 7% opposed it and 4% did not respond.
When asked which system is best for Pakistan, 65% chose democracy, 19% preferred an Islamic system, 10% supported military-led governance, and 1% backed a technocratic model.
Despite this strong support for democracy, 54% said they were unhappy with how it currently functions in the country, while 43% expressed satisfaction.
Regarding military interference in the democratic process, 42% said it harms Pakistan, while 21% believed it could help strengthen democracy. Another 22% took a neutral stance, and 15% did not offer an opinion.
The survey comes at a time when Pakistan’s global democracy ranking has declined.
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Democracy Index, Pakistan’s score fell from 3.25 in 2023 to 2.84 in 2024 due to political unrest and controversies surrounding the February 8 general elections.
Notably, the 2024 elections witnessed the highest voter turnout in the country’s history, according to the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). However, widespread concerns were raised over pre- and post-election violence, transparency, and limitations on democratic freedoms.
