Pakistan, Jan. 28 -- The elections planned for February 8 lack the usual lustre, mass rallies, flag-bearing marches, and fervour typical of such an occasion. During the campaign speeches, politicians in the run make big promises to fascinate the crowd and win their votes. Most of these promises are almost impossible to keep.

For instance, as an election manifesto, the PPP's chairman Bilawal Bhutto promises to 'double' salaries of lower classes, build three million homes and provide 300 units of free electricity. It reminds me of Imran Niazi's braggart who during his election campaign of 2018 had promised to build 5 million homes for the homeless. He even wanted to bulldoze the governor's house to convert it into a teaching institution. H...