AJAR | Asian Journal of Academic Research (ISSN: 2790-9379)

Electoral Mobilization and Religious Populism: An Analysis of the Rise of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in Punjab During General Elections 2018 and 2024

2025-10-05T17:36:21+00:00

This study examines the rise of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan in Punjab during the 2018 and 2024 general elections, focusing on the intersection of religious populism and electoral mobilization. The study focused on these questions: How did Tehreek-eLabaik Pakistan (TLP) transform from a religious movement to a political party while maintaining its movement-based identity? What role did the politics of blasphemy and sectarian identity play in shaping the electoral rise of TLP in Punjab during the 2018 and 2024 general elections? Drawing on Religious Populism Theory, the research explores how Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan leveraged sectarian identity, blasphemy politics and street activism to expand its political influence. The study highlights the party’s hybrid nature, functioning simultaneously as a protest movement and a formal political actor. Electoral data, qualitative analysis of party strategies and case studies of major protests—including the Faizabad sit-in and responses to Asia Bibi’s acquittal— demonstrate how Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan mobilized constituencies, particularly among lower-middle-class youth. The findings underscore the implications of religious populism for Pakistan’s democratic processes and the evolving nature of electoral competition in Punjab.

Narratives Comparing Punjab's New Matric Subjects with International Education Standards (International Baccalaureate and Cambridge)

2025-10-05T17:43:13+00:00

Punjab has introduced four new subject groups in the matric curriculum as part of a new educational reform. These subjects include Health Science, Information Technology, Agriculture, and Entrepreneurship. The aim of this initiative is to better prepare students for a competitive job market. The research addressed three key questions: How do these subjects compare with International Baccalaureate (IB) and Cambridge curricula? Do they adequately prepare students for global job markets and higher education? What areas require improvement? The study adopted a qualitative comparative approach involving document reviews to explore how the curriculum of these groups aligns with the International Education standards (IB and Cambridge). A manual content analysis identified the strengths and weaknesses in curriculum materials, teaching strategies, assessment techniques and suggested ways to improve alignment. While the addition of these subjects is a positive step, several obstacles remain in current implementation, including outdated teaching approaches, a lack of trained teachers and inadequate practical infrastructure. The findings show significant gaps in interdisciplinary learning, skill development and critical thinking. This research provides useful knowledge for curriculum developers, policymakers and educators aiming to reform secondary education in Pakistan.

Democratic Consolidation in Pakistan: Comparative Study of PTI and PMLN Era (2013-2022)

2025-10-05T17:50:32+00:00

The article examines the significance of democratic consolidation, outlining its historical challenges and political context. It outlines the research objectives and questions, emphasizing the need to understand the contributions and challenges faced by political parties. The study employs a qualitative research design, relying mostly on secondary data such as books, articles, research papers and reports. Data analysis involves thematic analysis to identify key themes related to democratic consolidation, along with comparative analysis to measure the progress in democratic norms during the PML-N and PTI eras. The research is guided by Democratic Consolidation Theory, which suggests that democratic systems develop and stabilize over time through effective governance, adherence to the rule of law and a democratic political culture. This theoretical framework allows an in-depth assessment of democratic institutions in Pakistan, including the independence of the judiciary and the functioning of the election commission. This study provides a critical examination of Pakistan's democratic evolution during a fundamental decade marked by the governance of PML-N and PTI.