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Thursday March 28, 2024

Democracy, morality to lose in today’s Senate polls

ISLAMABAD: Today, democracy and morality will be defeated in the Senate elections at the hands of none other but so-called democrats. If the rate for a vote has gone up to Rs50 million in a small assembly like Balochistan, it would not be difficult to judge the price in other

By Mazhar Abbas
March 05, 2015
ISLAMABAD: Today, democracy and morality will be defeated in the Senate elections at the hands of none other but so-called democrats. If the rate for a vote has gone up to Rs50 million in a small assembly like Balochistan, it would not be difficult to judge the price in other provinces. So, where are we heading from here? The outcome of these elections may not bring political stability. Instead, it has put the system under threat, causing more problems for the government.
2015 may not be an easy going year for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif if his party fails to hold its grip in the Upper House. There are some other problems which the PML-N government likely face in the coming weeks and months.
If he plays his cards well and opposition remains divided, the political situation may improve; but if the opposition causes upset in the Senate, there will be ups and downs for Sharif.As the situation stands today, democracy is certainly not a winner in these elections. Some politicians have put “price” of their conscience, and if few get elected through “unfair means”, which is a likely scenario, it will also be a defeat of “morality”.
I wish Supreme Court of Pakistan, after declaring 1990 elections as “rigid” on Air Marshal (R) Asghar Khan’s petition, could also have ordered the trial of those involved in the Mehran Bank scam like Yunus Habib, former ISI chief Asad Durrani and former army chief General (R) Aslam Baig.
The affidavit of Durrani is a confession that money has been given. So, at least those, who had given the money and admitted it, should have been put on trial. Those, who accepted the money, should also be debarred from politics and those, who denied, should be investigated.By allowing the FIA to investigate against the politicians who had taken money, the SC provided space to the government, whose own prime minister’s name was on the list.
A senator from Balochistan, who is also one of my university-days friends, now heading a political party, said, “Democracy is at stake in the elections. The price of one vote has go up to five crore rupees by Tuesday night.
“We don’t know till last night, who will cast vote for whom,” he said, adding that some interesting results may emerge from Balochistan today.Is it not a tragedy, that the province, which has sense of deprivation and facing “mini insurgency” like situation, some of its legislators have allegedly sold their conscience and there is no regret?
No party is sure which way its MPAs will cast their vote. Individual and joint meetings were held till last night at the residences of some party leaders. Imran Khan has rushed to Peshawar, and will stay their till the outcome of the results. In case of any upset he can take stiff action against its MPAs.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has gone to Saudi Arabia but his team is looking after the election process and trying to ensure maximum seats from Punjab, all 11, while hoping for four in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and at least three in Balochistan. If its alley Pakistan Muslim League-Functional manages to get one in Sindh, it would be a plus point for the PML-N. It may not face much problem in Islamabad.
PPP’s game plan is different, as former President Asif Ali Zardari, who holds the key in the number game, hopes to get at least one from KP and one from Balochistan while six from Sindh.
Now, can we call those who get elected in this manner as “senator”, member of the Upper House of Parliament? Is it not time to reject those so-called legislators who sold their conscience in the name of democracy?
We may see hot political summer, may be after budget as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf once again is planning another anti-government movement in the next two or three months. Senate elections can set the tone. It may also sharpen the differences between the PML-N and the PPP.
So what will be the possible outcome of the election? Can the PPP be able to give few surprises in Balochistan and KP and retain its strength, or the PML-N emerges as single largest party? The PML-N will require support of its allies if it really wants to win the posts of Senate chairman and deputy chairman.
Thus the game will not end after today’s election. The second phase will start after March 5. This time it will be senators’ turn to “bargain”. As situation stands today, the PPP still has more allies then the PML-N has, while Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, despite been in coalition with the PML-N in the federal government, has shown its tilt towards the PPP, thanks to Asif Ali Zardari’s personal friendship with Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
Four senators have already been elected unopposed, all from Sindh, after an agreement is reached between the PPP and the MQM on “sharing formula”.The PML-Functional of Pir Pagaro can cause an upset on one seat, if four PTI MPAs are allowed to cast vote in its favour. The MQM is certain to get four senators (two already elected unopposed), while PPP MPAs have to show some discipline if they really want to defeat the PML-F lone candidate in the race.
Some big surprises are awaited in Balochistan and KP assemblies, which have allegedly turned into a big “mandi,” where some MPAs are allegedly bargaining on their own and that too in the name of “conscience”. If a seasoned politician like Jan Mohammad Jamali, is quoted as saying that he would vote according to his “conscience”, whether his party likes it or not, what one can expect from others. His daughter is also in the running and he has also refused to withdraw her.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan has come hard on party MPAs and we may see some disciplinary action from the PTI, if they lose one or two seats as they are hoping to get six, while its coalition Jamaat-e-Islami lone candidate is Sirajul Haq.
Imran looks quite furious over the situation in the KP, and even announced that in case of major defection in the PTI, he can go for re-election of the KP Assembly. But, there is some contradiction in his stance. On the one hand he says that someone had offered to pay Rs15 crore for Shaukat Khanum hospital but in return wants a Senate ticket and on the other hand he described him an “honest man”.
To win the election of the Senate chairman, the PML-N at least needs support of the MQM, JUI-F and Fata. The opposition alliance is also eying its support on the MQM, JUI-F, ANP, Watan party, PML-Q and some Fata senators.
Thus the race for the chairman and deputy chairman will start soon after the results.It is time to have a closer look at the future of democracy and whether we are in the right direction or not. If mere holding of election and getting people elected is democracy, it is there. If democracy means “power belongs to the people” and election through fair means, it will be defeated in today’s election of the Senate.
Defeat of democracy and morality is not a victory of “dictatorship”, as corrupt practices are the outcome of long dictatorship. Better democracy is the right answer, which is not there at the moment.