Gallup Pakistan Poll: Over Two-thirds Support Imran Khan's Decision to Dissolve National Assembly
By Riaz Haq
CA
A snap poll conducted by Gallup Pakistan on April 3 and 4 shows broad support for Prime Minister Imran Khan 's decision to seek dissolution of the National Assembly and call fresh elections. Support for the decision is nationwide with 66% in Punjab, 69% in Sindh and 78% in KPK province.
The support is the highest among those identifying themselves as PTI voters with 95% of them approving the decision. Among the Opposition parties, 44% of PML-N voters and 50% of PPP voters agree with the decision.
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Source: Gallup Pakistan |
Here are the key findings of the Gallup Pakistan Poll :
1) Widespread support for dissolution of National Assembly in Pakistan
Respondents were asked ‘PM has dissolved the National Assembly and called for fresh elections. Do you support or are you against this.’ To this question a wide majority 68% say they support and 32% say they oppose PM Imran Khan’s move.
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Source: Gallup Pakistan |
2) Majority doesn’t believe in the US conspiracy to remove Imran Khan, although split exists along party lines on this issue. Significant majority - 64% - responded to this question and said that Imran Khan was being ousted because of inflation and not because of a foreign conspiracy.
3) Public opinion split over performance of Imran Khan
Respondents were asked the question ‘Imran Khan ruled for 3.5 years. Are you satisfied with the performance of their government or not satisfied?
In answer, ‘54% said they are dissatisfied and 46% said they are satisfied’
4) Anti-Americanism: Respondents were asked that some people think that America is a friend of Pakistan, and some feel it is an enemy. What is your opinion?
Almost 2 in 3 Pakistanis (72%) think the US to be an enemy. Anti-Americanism was highest among PTI supporters (80%) and lowest among PML-N voters (65%).
The poll included a random sample of 800 households (18+ males and females) interviewed by telephone on April 3 and 4, 2022. Provincial breakdown: 66% Punjab, 18% Sindh, 13% KPK and 4% Balochistan. Urban 34%, rural 64%. Margin of error: +- 3-5%, 95% Confidence Level.
Gallup Pakistan's note on Sample Size: The sample size used in this survey is quite adequate even in comparison to international standards. Gallup US Daily poll is 500 and the Gallup Poll Social Series is 1,000, both having a track record of reliable predictability for the USA (a country nearly 100 million larger in population than Pakistan). According to Five Thirty-Eight, one of the most credible sources on polling in the US: "Surveying 2,000 voters substantially reduces error compared with surveying 400 of them, but surveying 10,000 voters will produce only marginal improvements in accuracy compared with the 2,000- person survey".
(Riaz Haq is a Silicon Valley-based Pakistani-American analyst and writer. He blogs at www.riazhaq.com )
