Adil Najam

We have recently been talking about whether people think that they should at all vote in these elections and it is clear from reports that the turnout has been rather low. But it seems that like in all elections there are some who you cannot keep away from polling, even if you wanted to. Here are some images of Pakistanis at Elections 2008.

ATP Team and ATP Readers

All Things Pakistan (ATP) is a blog. We are not a news site. We are, however, deeply interested in meaningful conversation on everything that relates to Pakistan. Including news. Especially news about the elections now being held in Pakistan

In this post we invite all our readers to help us write about and comment on the election as it happens, its results, and the meaning of those results in the larger context of Pakistan’s society and politics.

Adil Najam

Although this election remains shrouded in uncertainty, despair and gloom, it is quite clear that – one way or the other – these elections will be yet another defining moment in Pakistan’s traumatic political history.

Elections are critical because they give the citizen on opportunity to make their voice heard; to make a statement. This voice is not always heard and is sometimes not made to register, but the opportunity to do so is important unto itself. Yet, political theory also alerts us that opinion can be voiced also through silence. Statements can also be made through non-participation. In terms of elections it is as important to keep an eye on who is voting as on who is not; and why not.