Public Opinion Poll shows popularity of Shahbaz, Nawaz Sahrif, Imran Khan and Tahir ul Qadri

Gallup, Pildat Public Poll Results of August 2014

Public Opinion Poll shows popularity of Shahbaz, Nawaz Sahrif, Imran Khan and Tahir ul Qadri

Islamabad (Tuesday, August 12, 2014) – A PILDAT Public Opinion Poll has revealed that a substantial 67% of the country’s population believes that democratically elected governments constitute the best system for Pakistan. Crucially, the popular appetite for another Army rule in the country remains low as only 19% Pakistanis see another military rule as the best system for the country.

The nationwide poll was conducted during July 16, 2014 to August 6, 2014 with a large sample size of 3065 citizens throughout Pakistan.

Public Opinion on trust in leaders depicts the following picture:

Most Popular Leaders of Pakistan
On top of the pyramid is Punjab’s Chief Minister, Mr. Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif with 57% positive ratings. He is followed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who received a 53% positive ratings. At 52% positive ratings nationwide, chairman of the PTI, Mr. Imran Khan is viewed nationwide as a Good or Very Good leader.

Most bad Leaders of Pakistan
Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri‘s public persona across Pakistan is steeped in negative perceptions of his leadership skills and potential. A whopping 72% of all Pakistanis evaluate him as a Bad or Very Bad leader, while only 21% rated him as a Good to Very Good leader.

Gen. (Retd.) Pervez Musharraf also remains an unpopular leader in Pakistan, albeit less unpopular than some of the other political leaders in Pakistan’s national politics. 62% Pakistanis rate him as Bad or Very Bad leader, while 34% rated him as Good to Very Good leader.

Negative ratings of all other political leaders of Pakistan remain higher than their positive ratings in the public as shown in various opinion polls through previous years.

While 63% of all Pakistanis believe that the General Election held in May 2013 was somewhat to completely transparent and fair, 37% respondents see the May 2013 Election as somewhat rigged to completely rigged.

An overwhelming majority of Pakistanis, 85% believe that it is critical that the Election Commission of Pakistan’s functions need to be reformed and reconfigured. In comparison, 67% people felt the need for electoral reforms in a poll upon the conclusion of 100 days of National and Provincial Governments in September 2013.

This, correspondingly, is also reflected in the trust in the ECP in which 52% Pakistanis report little to no trust at all in the Election Commission of Pakistan. 44% Pakistanis have somewhat to a lot of trust in this vital institution. This picture of a split mandate shows that at present Pakistanis remain uncertain about the Election Commission, while stating in clear terms that this institution needs to be reformed and changed as a matter of priority. Given, the pressure for reforms and changes in the ECP, only 30% Pakistanis believe that the next elections will be conducted in a much better fashion by the Election Commission. However, 26% Pakistanis have serious doubts about the Election Commission and believe that the ECP will fare worse in the next elections.

The Nationwide Poll was conceived and commissioned by PILDAT and conducted by Gallup Pakistan using the following Methodology:

Sample Size: 3065; Coverage: National/Rural and Urban/All four provinces; Mode: Face to face; Survey dates: July 16 – August 6, 2014. Estimated error margin: +3-5% at 95% confidence level.