Mobile networks were shut off and militants attacked some candidates. One popular leader — who was not on the ballot — essentially campaigned for his proxies via an AI-generated version of himself.
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
In a year where dozens of countries will have elections, today was Pakistan’s turn, and it was a doozy. Cellphone networks were shut off. People complained of voting irregularities. Militants attacked some candidates. And one popular leader who was not on the ballot essentially campaigned for his proxies via an AI-generated version of himself. NPR’s Diaa Hadid reports.
DIAA HADID, BYLINE: Tens of millions of people cast their vote, with more than 5,000 candidates vying for just over 260 seats. But analyst Omar Waraich says this vote was really about one man.
OMAR WARAICH: This election is all about one man, who is sitting in jail, and about stopping him from being able to become prime minister again – that’s Imran Khan.
HADID: Imran Khan – arguably Pakistan’s most popular politician.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: (Chanting in non-English language).
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP #1: (Chanting in non-English language).
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: (Chanting in non-English language).
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP #2: (Chanting in non-English language).
HADID: He was ousted from power nearly two years ago after falling out with the army, the country’s most powerful institution. Just last week, Khan was sentenced in three different cases and is now serving 14 years in jail. His party was not allowed to contest elections, so they fought back.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTIST: (Singing in non-English language).
HADID: Khan’s allies ran as independents, flooding social media with songs urging people to vote.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTIST: (Singing in non-English language).
HADID: They campaigned on TikTok as authorities…
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