Sharif Ahead

Updated on: 7 February 2024 7:35 pm

Sharif Ahead

IN a nationwide poll conducted by the monthly

Herald , 1,200 Pakistani voters spread over 14 urban and rural centres answered questions on the ensuing elections. Some findings:

Nawaz Sharifs PML leads overall with a total 36.3 per cent. Benazir Bhuttos PPP comes second with 19.5 per cent. The MQM , if it contests the elections, will retain its position as the countrys third largest party with 11.3 per cent. Imran Khans Tehrik- e- Insaf was a poor fourth with only 3.8 per cent, while 3.5 per cent favoured the Awami National Party ( ANP ), headed by Khan Abdul Wali Khan, son of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan.

40 per cent women said they will vote for Sharif, 21 per cent for Benazir and just 2.5 per cent for Imran.

Imran Khan is not even the third option, after Sharif and Benazir.

Regionally, there is a swing in favour of the PML , particularly in Punjab. Except in Larkana, Sukkur and Mardan, the PML leads the PPP in all other centres. For example, in Lahore, 50 per cent respondents backed the PML against 10 per cent for the PPP . Twelve per cent supported Imran in Lahore, while in the rest of the constituencies Imrans support was in single digits.

The PPP will fare slightly better in Sindh, but the Shaheed Bhutto group will damage Benazir in Larkana, her home ground, where 25 per cent say they will vote for Ghinwa Bhuttos group against 42 per cent for the PPP and 14 per cent for the PML .

In Karachi, 41 one per cent respondents will vote for the MQM , 10 per cent for the PPP and 14 per cent for PML .

Should Benazir be allowed to contest: 56 per cent respondents said no, while 44 per cent were in favour. In Lahore, 75 per cent respondents were against her contesting, Quetta (82 per cent), Multan (59 per cent). But Benazir has the upper hand in Larkana (68 per cent), Mardan (67 per cent), Sukkur (62 per cent) and Rawalpindi/ Islamabad (59 per cent).