Stage set for highly competitive, closely contested election

Let’s list the salient features evident so far in the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) Election 2024. This effort will help us analyze the situation surrounding the election campaign and may provide insight into which group might emerge victorious.
The first feature that has come to light this time is that ordinary engineers, who typically remain somewhat detached from the affairs of the council, are now gripped by the perception that there is significant mismanagement within the council and that the institution is not being run according to its Act and Bylaws. This perception has been highlighted by allegations made by a member of the Governing Body, who addressed a press conference on public media. Prior to Engr. Zahoor Sarwar, no one had spoken so openly about the council’s affairs, despite such issues circulating within closed circles of engineers. Engr. Sarwar’s critique has undoubtedly caused a number of young engineers to feel disheartened, particularly those who are dissatisfied with their circumstances and are unemployed. Consequently, a significant portion of this group may not turn up to vote in the elections scheduled for August 18.
Setting aside the motive behind Engr. Sarwar’s diatribe, the timing is notably significant as it coincides with the elections. However, what is even more important is that the contestant groups, which typically avoided making allegations against their opponents, have also been drawn into the practice of mudslinging. As a result, a sense of frustration has begun to seep into engineering circles across Pakistan.
Now let’s examine some additional salient features concerning the top leadership of the contesting groups in the PEC Elections. For instance, this election will be the last for many senior engineers actively involved in the election field. Engr. Jawed Salim Qureshi, leading The Engineers Pakistan (TEP), is likely to be among them. Next is Engr. Waseem Nazir, the leader of PEG, who is now heading the PEG-NEA Alliance. Engr. Nazir has announced that he will not contest the PEC Election in 2027, regardless of the outcome of the August 18 election; this will be his third attempt. Also in the running is Engr. Najeeb Haroon—the incumbent chairman of the council—who has already declared that this will be his final election. He attempted to convince Engr. Qadir Shah, the supreme leader of NEA, to back him for a second term but was unsuccessful. Engr. Shah is supporting Engr. Nazir instead of contesting himself this time, which effectively marks the end of Engr. Shah’s engineering political career.
An interesting aspect is that, since all these top leaders are at the culmination of their careers, they appear desperate and have invested considerable effort into their campaigns to secure victory. For instance, TEP and PEG-NEA have designed and executed rigorous campaigns, including inspirational videos featuring their leaders. Some of these leaders promise to reform the council, while others seek to complete their unfinished agendas. Correspondingly, they have leveraged their political connections to gain access to public-sector organizations and engineering education institutions across Pakistan.
Another important factor that should not be overlooked is the influence of academia. A significant majority of the candidates in this election come from academic backgrounds. They have ready-made support networks in the form of their large student bodies, which they can mobilize to secure votes. This makes them highly attractive to each group contesting the elections. Conversely, it highlights the lack of engagement from the many engineers working in the private sector across the country, which has affected the balance within the council’s governing body.
On actual ground
In the PEC Elections 2024, there are six candidates for the office of chairman: Engr. Jawed Saleem Qureshi (TEP), Engr. Waseem Nazir (PEG-NEA), Engr. Najeeb Haroon (PDG), Engr. Al Kazim Mansoor (PEF), Engr. Ashfaq Shah (UEP), and Engr. Ehsan Ullah Bhatti.
Perceptions suggest that Engr. Qureshi and Engr. Nazir are in a close contest. TEP and PEG-NEA have spared no effort in attracting voters across Pakistan. TEP, with its political influence, appears to have a slight edge in Punjab, while PEG-NEA is similarly strong in Sindh. Both groups have significant influence in Balochistan, with a slight tilt in favor of Engr. Nazir, while KP presents a new factor in Engr. Ashfaq Shah. However, the other candidates are also in contention and are likely to attract a substantial number of voters. Engr. Mansoor of PEF, who has noted the number of votes secured by his group’s senior vice president candidate in Punjab, will also leverage his group’s presence in Sindh, KP, and Balochistan.
Engr. Najeeb Haroon, who formed his group after splitting from Engr. Qadir Shah and has mobilized support including political allies in Sindh, is expected to secure votes in that province. His political affiliation in Karachi may help him gain votes, potentially leading TEP to lose some supporters in Sindh.
Engr. Ashfaq Shah, representing contractors in Pakistan, has mobilized engineers across the country, particularly in KP. Although he was part of a movement to distance contractors from the PEC and is less trusted by engineers who prefer contractors to be under council oversight, he is still likely to garner several votes, which could reduce the winning margin for the top candidate. Similarly, Engr. Bhatti will also be a contender for a significant share of votes.
Political Backing
Nearly all the engineering groups have political backing and are utilizing it to their advantage. Political parties such as PML-N, PPP, MQM, ANP, and others are involved in the elections, despite this not being a general election. Interestingly, within Sindh, different factions of the PPP support TEP and PEG-NEA. The support of PTI remains uncertain and could significantly impact the final results of the election.n