ISLAMABAD: The findings of a recent survey show two third of Pakistanis want midterm elections to be held within this year.
Pakistan's ousted prime minister, Imran Khan, has been holding countrywide rallies demanding fresh elections amid political turmoil after the new government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took over in April and is grappling with the enormous challenge to revive a battered economy.
Sharif has not yet announced a date for next elections but indicated his government will complete its term until August 2023.
“Do you think federal government should complete its full term or should announce mid-term elections?” multinational market research and consulting firm Ipsos asked in a survey, the results of which were published this week.
The results showed that 64% people said “mid-term election should be announced and election should be held this year” while 36% said elections should be held next year after the government finished its term.
Khan along with his over 100 lawmakers in the lower house of the parliament resigned after he lost a vote of confidence moved by a united opposition in April. Khan has since called for immediate elections. The election commission has said it needs until at least October to prepare for fresh polls.
