[nonrandomstring]

Hmm, I tried to follow but that seemed a little elaborate. I think if someone tried to pull-off what you described (declaring a candidate disqualified within a week of an election) you'd have civil unrest or worse on your hands regardless any information flows.

[notpushkin]

Not if you can't have civil unrest. This has been happening in Russia for like every election cycle, and people do try to protest, but those protests are being quickly suppressed, each year more and more violently.

[ffgjgf1]

> you'd have civil unrest or worse on your hands regardless any information flows.

In a normal state sure. In a semi-failed state which no sane person would consider a democracy? Probably not so much..

[omajid]

Like I said, it is one plausible interpretation of events. It started almost a year ago, and it's been reaching a crescendo roughly last week. And since this is Pakistan, civil unrest is quite common anyway. Heck, there's an entire article on the start of this election cycle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%E2%80%932023_Pakistan_pol...

Specific sources to back up my claims:

- "So it used the court system to declare an entire opposite party (B) as in-eligible to run the country" and "And this isn't done 2 years in advance, but mere days/weeks from the election"

  https://time.com/6556335/pakistan-election-imran-khan-nawaz-sharif-military-pti/:
  
  > On Monday [Jan 15, 2024], Khan’s PTI party was banned from using its iconic cricket bat logo on ballot papers, significantly hampering its chances amongst an electorate which is up to 40% illiterate. Most crucially, it effectively bans the PTI as a party and means its candidates will likely have to stand as independents, who will reportedly use a range of symbols ranging from a rollercoaster to a goat. “The election symbol is an integral component of fair elections,” Raoof Hasan, PTI’s principal spokesman and a former special assistant to Khan, tells TIME. “It’s rendering the party toothless.”

  And similarly, a previously-disqulified party leader (think Trump/Biden) was suddenly eligible to run again. https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-elections-timeline-36ed1d7bc77e78e630044d33ef624454:

  > Jan. 8, 2024 — The Supreme Court scraps a lifetime ban on politicians with criminal convictions from contesting elections, clearing the way for Nawaz Sharif to seek a fourth term in office 

- "The members decide to run as Independents. How do you communicate this to the voters quickly? When Charlie goes in to vote for someone from B, how does he find out who to vote for?"

  https://twitter.com/PTIofficial/status/1748893680084111408?lang=en:

  > Following website will provide you information about Elections 2024: https://insaf.pk/election2024
  >
  > Type in your Halqa/Constituency Number to find:
  > - Name of Imran Khan’s designated candidate
  > -  Electoral symbol name & picture
  > -  A WhatsApp channel link for the respective Halqa/Constituency, to get timely information

[nonrandomstring]

Sorry I did not realise you are describing a sequence of events that actually happened/are happening. Yes I am looking though my (UK) lens of a slightly saner election (I hope), not one where civil unrest is already the backdrop.