Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, despite being incarcerated, has emerged as the leader in approval ratings for political figures at the national level, according to the latest Gallup Pakistan survey released on Thursday. The survey, conducted in December 2023, showcased Imran Khan at the forefront, with three-time former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif closely trailing behind.
The findings indicated that while Imran Khan’s ratings have remained consistent, Nawaz Sharif’s popularity has seen a notable uptick. The Gallup Pakistan’s survey further revealed a steady narrowing of the gap between Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over the last eight months.
The December 2023 survey, encompassing a sample size of approximately 5,000 men and women, marked a crucial period leading up to the upcoming general elections in February 2024. The report highlighted a reduction in the approval rating gap between Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif, especially in the crucial region of Punjab.
Within Punjab, the survey suggested that Nawaz Sharif holds a lead over Imran Khan, showcasing improved ratings for the PML-N leader while Imran Khan’s ratings remain relatively stable. Notably, the gap between the PTI and PML-N in Punjab has significantly diminished, decreasing from a 21% margin in March 2023 to a mere 2% in December 2023.
The report emphasized the competitiveness of the electoral contest in Punjab one month before the elections, with 34% and 32% of surveyed voters expressing support for PTI and PML-N, respectively. The survey highlighted regional variations in Punjab, with PTI leading in north Punjab, a close contest in west and central Punjab, and PML-N in the lead in south Punjab.
The situation in Sindh indicated the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) as the dominant party, particularly in rural areas. However, the PPP’s stronghold in Karachi appeared less robust. In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), the PTI maintained its lead, but the emergence of alliances posed considerable challenges.
The survey suggested a rise in PTI’s popularity since the general elections in 2018, with a 37% vote share. However, the concentration of votes for other parties in specific regions, such as JUI-F in south K-P and PML-N in Hazara, raised the possibility of alliances offering formidable competition to PTI in various territories.
With just a month remaining until the general elections, political analysts are closely watching whether the current trends persist or witness a reversal, making the electoral race increasingly unpredictable.
