A recent nationwide survey has revealed that most Pakistanis continue to consider democracy vital for the country’s stability and development, despite concerns about its current functioning.
The poll, conducted by the Institute for Public Opinion Research (IPOR) and cited by The News, gathered responses from over 1,000 individuals across the country.
According to the findings, 89% of respondents expressed support for democracy, seeing it as essential for Pakistan’s future. In contrast, 7% opposed the system, and 4% chose not to respond.
When asked about their level of satisfaction with the current democratic system, 54% said they were dissatisfied, while 43% expressed satisfaction.
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Regarding the best form of governance for Pakistan, 65% favoured democracy, 19% supported an Islamic system, and 10% backed military rule. A small group of 1% preferred a technocratic system.
Opinions were divided on military involvement in politics. 42% believed military intervention was harmful, 21% viewed it as beneficial, and 22% remained neutral, while 15% gave no opinion.
The survey coincided with the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index, which reported a decline in Pakistan’s democratic score from 3.25 in 2023 to 2.84 in 2024, citing election-related unrest.