Whether it’s the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in 2008, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) in 2013, or the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in 2018, all three made promises in their manifestos before elections but failed to fulfill them. According to Dr. Erum Khalid, Chairman of the Political Science Department at Punjab University, manifestos in Pakistan don’t hold much value due to the dominance of emotional and personality-driven politics. In contrast to developed democracies where manifestos are released well in advance, in Pakistan, they are often released just weeks before the election.
Shahnaz Akhtar from Karachi criticized the PPP’s manifesto, emphasizing that without a clear strategy for implementation, it remains empty promises. Naseer Memon, a political analyst, pointed out the lack of significant progress in Sindh’s agriculture and rural living standards despite the PPP’s rule. Similarly, Muhammad Aslam criticized the PML-N for not focusing on promised sectors during its stint in power.
Umair Farooqi, a shopkeeper, expressed concerns about the PTI’s broken promises and its impact on the country’s economic condition. Even Parvez Khattak, formerly with the PTI, criticized the party for failing to deliver on corruption, housing, and healthcare promises. Political analyst Memon highlighted that political parties often neglect manifestos because there is no effective mechanism to ensure promises are fulfilled after elections.
However, leaders of the three mainstream parties defended their records. Senator Taj Haider from the PPP claimed that his party provided more amenities than promised, especially in healthcare and affordable housing. Ahsan Iqbal, PML-N’s General Secretary, asserted that his party serves the people as per its manifesto, outlining promises for legal justice, economy, poverty reduction, anti-corruption, IT, health, and accountability. Taimur Jhagra from the PTI defended the party’s manifesto, citing improvements in healthcare, education, sports, and tourism. Despite claims, Dr. Khalid argued that all three mainstream parties prioritize power over fulfilling promises.