Politics of Faith, Ethnonationalism and Change: A History of General Elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (1988 - 2018)

Abstract

Using a longitudinal historical comparison and the key drivers working behind, this paper provides a detailed account and analysis of the general elections (1988 - 2018) held in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly NWFP). The study explores the unique socio-political prime movers that define the KP province’s voting behavior. The analysis indicates the transition from a period of unstable coalition governments and frequent dissolutions of the successive parliaments to the eventual emergence and winning of popular will by single-party. Based on analysis of secondary and published data, key themes are included the impact of regional security issues and concerns (specifically the Afghan conflict and the rise of militancy in the KP regions), the voter turnout and party manifestoes, the alleged manipulative role of the security establishment in electoral processes, and the historic transitions of power between various civilian administrations. The findings suggest that while incumbency and governance remain central to politics and elections, the KP electorate is uniquely vulnerable to external geopolitical factors and pressures and internal security discourses. The security narratives, both internal and external, frequently influence the electoral results and set in dramatic shifts in the KP’s power structure.