Islamabad, Gallup Pakistan, in its latest Big Data Analysis initiative, has shed light on the criminal records of candidates who stood for elections in 2018, revealing that 7% of them had a criminal background. This analysis is a part of the ‘ECP Nomination Papers 2018’ publication, which aims to make Pakistan’s extensive data more accessible and usable.

According to Gallup Pakistan, the Big Data series, led by Bilal I Gilani, Executive Director of Gallup Pakistan, aims to address the gap in data availability and usage in Pakistan. The series has previously analyzed data from various national surveys and reports. The current edition focuses on the Pakistan Demographic Survey and particularly examines the criminal records of candidates in the 2018 elections.

Key findings of the report include:

1) Nationwide, 7% of all candidates in the 2018 elections had a criminal record.

2) A provincial breakdown shows that Islamabad had the highest percentage of candidates with criminal records at 9%, while FATA had the lowest at 0%.

3) Among candidates with criminal records, the majority identified their occupation as “politician”, accounting for 12%.

These insights provide a unique perspective on the backgrounds of individuals who sought electoral office in Pakistan, highlighting the intersection of criminality and politics. Gallup Pakistan’s analysis is expected to stimulate discussions in relevant circles about the implications of these findings for the socio-political landscape and development sector in Pakistan.