ISLAMABAD – A Gallup report on Panama Leaks verdict shows only 1 in 3 Pakistanis like the Supreme Court judgment.
As one would expect, popular opinion on Panama Case verdict is politically coloured. The PML-N voters said they were relieved while others expressed disappointment in the nationwide poll carried out during the first 24 hours of the Thursday’s decision.
On the whole, 36 per cent people said they liked the decision while 43 per cent disliked it. Some 21% did not give a view.
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Views among PML-N, PTI and PPP voters
The proportions of liking and disliking were very different among voters of various parties. Among PML-N voters, 68 per cent liked it while 16 percent disliked it; and the remaining could not form a view.
Among PTI voters, the views were exactly the opposite: 67% disliked it, and only 12% liked it.
Among PPP voters, 58% disliked it, and 21% liked the decision.
This pattern of responses is repeated on a range of Questions posed in the Flash Poll by Gallup Pakistan.
General Feelings/Emotions
Respondents were then asked if they were the Supreme Court’s judge, would they have given the same decision, a stricter decision, or a less strict decision. In response, 40% said they would have given a more strict decision, 21% said a less strict decision, 23% said the same decision and 16% did not know.
Good or Bad Decision: 37% vs 45%
Respondents were further asked if in their opinion, the Supreme Court’s decision would be remembered as a good decision or as a bad decision. In response, 37% said as a good decision, 45% said as a bad decision and 18% did not know.
Majority (55%) say that they believe the judgment is overall in favour of PM Nawaz Sharif, only 14% think it is against him; while 31% said neither in his favour, nor against him.
Effects of Judgment
Only 29% Pakistanis believe the Panama judgment would lead to less corruption in the country, 28% say it would have an overall good impact, and 30% say growth rate would increase as a result of the verdict
Respondents were then asked if the judgment would help reduce corruption amongst the politicians, or there would be no difference or corruption would increase. In response, 29% said corruption would decrease, 51% said there would be no difference, while 20% said corruption would increase.
Respondents were further asked if verdict had an overall good or bad impact on Pakistan. In response to this question, 28% said a good impact, 32% said bad impact, 32% said did not have a significant impact and 8% did not know.
Respondents were then asked would Pakistan’s growth rate increase, decrease or remain the same after the Panama verdict. In response, 30% said growth rate would increase, 35% said growth rate would decrease, while 35% said there would not be any significant difference.
Change in Voting Intention
Voting Intention before Verdict: PML N tops by a huge margin, PTI second, followed by PPP
Respondents were then asked their voting intention for the upcoming election before the Panama verdict. In response to the question, 17% said they would have voted for PPP, 38% said PML-N, 22% said PTI, 3% said independent nominee, 2% each said JUI, ANP, MQM (Farooq Sattar)and BNP.
1% each said PSP, JI and PML-F, while 1% each said MQM (London) and PML-Q.
8% said they would not cast their vote and 1% did not know or did not wish to respond.
Voting Intention after Verdict: 2% Drop in PML N Voters, 3% Rise in PTI Popularity
Respondents were then asked their voting intention after the Panama verdict. In response to the question, 16% said they would have voted for PPP, 36% said PML-N and 25% said PTI.
3% said JUI and 2% each said, ANP, JI, BNP and independent nominee.
1% each said PSP, MQM (Farooq Sattar) and PML-F, while 1% each said MQM (London) and PML-Q.
8% said they would not cast their vote and 1% did not know or did not wish to respond.
Support for Supreme Court
Respondents were then asked should Supreme Court interfere in political cases like Panama case or not. In response, 39% said they favour SC interference, 26% said they are against, while 24% said they are neither in favour nor against Supreme Court’s interference. 11% did not know.
Nearly half Pakistanis think the judgment has declared Nawaz Sharif neither corrupt nor disqualified him.
Respondents were further asked if Supreme Court has declared Nawaz Sharif corrupt and has not disqualified him, or he has neither been declared corrupt nor has been disqualified. In response, 39% said the Supreme Court has declared Nawaz Sharif corrupt but has not disqualified him, while 46% said he has neither been declared corrupt nor has been disqualified. 15% did not know.
32% Pakistani’s say that Public in general has not accepted the Panama verdict.
Respondents were then asked their opinion that which figures/parties have accepted the Panama decision. For Nawaz Sharif and PML-N, 71% said they have completely accepted the decision, 20% said accepted to some extent, while 9% said did not accept the decision at all.
For Imran Khan and PTI, 19% said they have completely accepted the decision, 36% said accepted to some extent, while 45% said did not accept the decision at all.
For Jamat-i-Islami, 17% said they have completely accepted the decision, 46% said accepted to some extent, while 37% said did not accept the decision at all.
For Sheikh Rasheed, 14% said they have completely accepted the decision, 33% said accepted to some extent, while 53% said did not accept the decision at all.
For PPP, 17% said they have completely accepted the decision, 39% said accepted to some extent, while 44% said did not accept the decision at all.
For the general public, 28% said they have completely accepted the decision, 40% said accepted to some extent, while 32% said did not accept the decision at all.
The Gallup report based on Flash poll within 24 hours of verdict announcement conducted face to face with over 1300 scientifically selected men and women nationwide in the rural and urban areas of all provinces.
The findings became available in less than 48 hours of the announcement of SC verdict because Gallup used the latest Tablet Technology to collect responses. The interviews were conducted with the respondents in their homes but the responses were conveyed immediately to Gallup’s Data Center through Tablet/Smartphone technology.
