“Nobody is [contesting] independently in the election as the voters will hold them accountable,” said Shaukat Piracha on Aaj News as he along with Munizae Jahangir and Sidra Iqbal kicked off the Election Transmission 2024.

Aaj News Election 2024 coverage features a panel comprising the country’s top journalists including Munizae Jahangir @MunizaeJahangir, Shaukat Piracha @ShaukatPiracha1, Tariq Chaudhry @tariqchaaj among others.

According to Piracha, the voters of independent candidates went through similar hardships just as the contesting candidates and they will hold their representatives accountable.

The country has arrived at this juncture after passing through a bumpy road where the Constitution was violated when elections were not held within 90 days and then the Supreme Court had to intervene, he said.

“This is a difficult journey that Pakistan has passed. Pakistan is going to be the world’s fifth biggest democracy on February 8,” Piracha said.

Jahangir said that the election will not be a walkover for any political party as the upcoming polls are going to be complicated.

“A new generation has entered the election process. A section of silent voters has also surfaced which says they will vote for the one who cannot be named,” she added.

According to Jahangir, the silent voter will play a pivotal role in helping Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) give a tough competition in Punjab. “However, if the party machinery fails to get them out on February 8, then the election is forgone conclusion – at least as far as Punjab is concerned.”