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Free and fair elections DR TANVIR HUSSAIN BHATTI Friday 10, August 2007 Source: THE POST Opinion Poll
Do you agree inequality threatens S Asian stability? YES NO

General elections in 2007 are on the cards. But so far, there is neither any sign nor any strategy to conduct free and fair elections. The history of elections in Pakistan is full of bitter experiences. Winning polls through under the table means, frequent change of loyalties and political deals to safeguard vested interests is no secret to anyone. It is really tragic that only the elections of 1970 can be called transparent ever since the creation of Pakistan. But these elections were held under the aegis of a man in khaki, who had his own axe to grind. However, these impartial polls could not suit Pakistans disputatious political atmosphere thick with tension, which tore the nation apart and led to the countrys dismemberment. Before and after disintegration, horse-trading and rigging became the norm. Some elections were held under the surveillance of army dictatorship on non-party basis. But these polls stained the sanctity of democratic institutions and derailed their foundations by not permitting democracy to take firm roots. Unfortunately, our democratic institutions have not progressed even at a snails pace since the creation of Pakistan. The power lust and loaded politicians of the truncated Pakistan did not learn any lesson from their past follies that provided a vacuum to the over ambitious generals to intervene in order to grip the bridle of political power in their steely clutches. Recurrent army intervention and abrogation of the constitution did not permit democracy to flourish. During the dictatorship of General Ayub Khan and General Ziaul Haq, political parties and their activities were banned. Due to this ham handed approach, political institutions are still doddering and fragile. A strong and independent election commission could not be set up since the establishment of Pakistan, which is obligatory to conduct transparent elections. The ruling parties appointed election commissions and officials that suited their personal interests so that they had an edge over their political rivals in the subsequent elections to manoeuvre the results. The various election commission officials, the pliant bureaucracy and the law enforcement agencies spare no effort to help the kings party to emerge triumphant in the upcoming elections. An impartial and powerful election commission is imperative to plug the loopholes in the electoral process. Young generations are the true assets of any nation. Only the youth having high spirits can bring any positive change, which is painful, venomous and a mortal threat to the landlords. It can be the last nail in the coffin of feudalism. There is nothing wrong with our present generation. They are the successors of the same energetic vanguard who carved out Pakistan on the map of the world within the short duration of seven years by marching towards their goal with indomitable will and dauntless courage under the auspices of the

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sagacious leadership and erudite guidance of the Father of the Nation. The well-fixed bigwigs of the country unanimously hatched a conspiracy against the vigorous young generation, scrapping the bottom of the barrel to permanently marginalise it from various arenas of national life by outlawing student unions. The student unions were breeding grounds of genuine political leaders and the unions elections were useful ways to groom them. It is a bald fact that some vicious people utilise these for their noxious agendas. But there is no alternative for a capable Pakistani feeling the pinch to achieve the highest political status in a fair way. Elections provide a ray of hope to the disappointed public down to their bottom dollar for a change. The bungling politicians raise hollow slogans to hoodwink the cash-strapped ignorant masses while canvassing. But after winning elections, they visit their constituency once in a blue moon and turn a blind eye to social welfare. These so-called well-lined legislators start feathering their own nests after victory. Therefore their empty thundering catchphrases and syrupy promises propagated during the elections campaigns cut no ice. Thus public development has remained in the balance, as the teeming millions are still living at subsistence level. Use of unfair and dishonest means in the Local Body Elections of 2005 is an open secret. Even some MPAs and MNAs contested these polls because there were huge public funds in the district and tehsil budgets. Due to their insatiable greed and power lust, these so-called public representatives moved heaven and earth to elbow out their rivals. They resorted to lavish spending to purchase the loyalty of voters. Therefore, they take it for granted that embezzlement of public funds is their right to retrieve the money they had splashed out during the polls. Women form over 50 percent of the countrys population. But they have been politically sidelined as in other walks of life on the basis of gender. Even the present assemblies, harbouring the largest number of women legislators in the history of Pakistan, are deprived of true womens representatives. Almost all the nominated female MNAs and MPAs are the kith and kin of the big shots of the country. Those who came to power after contesting the polls are as scarce as honesty in a scam-spattered country. Another dreary picture of the electoral process in Pakistan is that the majority of the people cast their votes on the basis of sect, caste, language and self-seeking interests, instead of on the basis of principles. These wishy-washy voters dont bother to adhere to their political party manifestoes. Due to this frog in the pond approach, they remain indifferent to the real value and the punch of their votes, which has weakened democracy. Due to the selfishness of a handful of people, during every election there are several incidents of bloody clashes, which continue for several years, claiming a number of lives. The so-called public representatives add fuel to the fire and flare up the flames of hatred by backing their chief supporters in getting fake medico-legal certificates and launching forged FIRs to get revenge against their own political opponents. This makeshift patchwork and ragtag controlled democracy has divided the people into bloodthirsty enemies instead of just opinionated rivals on the basis of diverse political outlooks. The function of the opposition in democratic countries is healthy criticism so that the political party in power can expedite its efforts toward nation building. But, paradoxically, the role of the opposition in our country is not very different from the ruling elite. They think that their sole task is to negatively criticise, falsely propagate and highlight the dark

aspects of the governments policies, and to overthrow the party in the driving seat as early as possible to ascend to the throne. Due to this selfish approach, the fate of democracy in Pakistan is still in the doldrums. A thriving democracy established through transparent electoral procedures can act as a stepping-stone to provide a sound basis for the resolution of serious national issues to yield a rich socio-economic harvest and can build up national consensus for fair distribution of national resources among the constituent units. Emergence of true national democratic leaders through crystal clear polls is necessary to cultivate mutual trust to reduce mounting tension among the federating units, which is indispensable for national integration, progress and prosperity of this Land of the Pure.

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South Asian Free Media Association