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WEEKLY
SECTIONS |
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| Only transparent elections can save democracy |
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Monday, November 16, 2009
By Tahir Hasan Khan
Karachi
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is confident after posting victory in Gilgit-Baltistan polls as well as the breakthrough meeting between Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif.
These two events came at a time when the government and PPP leaders were under strong criticism by the media for various issue, such as the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) and the sugar crisis.
The victory of the PPP in the Gilgit-Baltistan election is not surprising for the political observers as the party has always been quite popular there since the era of late Z.A Bhutto, who not only provided basic rights to the people there but also built the Silk Route which helped people gain employment.
During the current elections, the PPP bagged 12 out of 23 seats, while the PML-N won two seats; Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), and PML-Quaid (PML-Q) secured one seat each. Independent candidates won four seats, while Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and Awami National Party (ANP) failed to win a single seat.
Most political parties bragged even before the elections of their victory. However, once the results came out, accusations of rigging were rife.
PM Gilani also rejected opposition’s claim of rigging charges in the National Assembly session which also witnessed a walk out staged by PML-Q and PML-N against the same. MQM also protested and lodged a complaint about rigging but did not walk out from the assembly.
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed satisfaction over the election process and voter turnout. However, they pointed out that the election process was also marred with flaws which were caused by holding elections in haste and inadequate arrangements. The participation of the PM Gilani in the election campaign was also one of the reasons pointed out by the HRCP as against the election process.
Rigging charges against the PPP are not new. They faced similar allegations back in 1977 when the Pakistan National Alliance (PNA), a nine-party alliance, launched a campaign against the PPP and eventually, Gen. Ziaul Haq toppled the Z.A Bhutto government. The country suffered a lot due to this martial law which damaged the democratic process as well as opened the floodgates of terrorism in the country.
The victory of armed forces in this war against terror has boosted the moral of army bosses and the same anti-democratic elements are trying to create the impression that this is the time for military to reenact the incident of 1977.
Political observers advised the President Zardari and the PM to save the democratic process by implementing the Charter of Democracy (CoD), particularly the points agreed upon by both the PPP and PML-N. Appointment of an independent election commissioner, a flawless voters list devoid of past mistakes would be a great service by the present regime.
The election process and rules in India are a good example which can be adopted in Pakistan to ensure transparent, peaceful election. Political parties and democratic forces should also be taken on board. Reforms in election process are the only way to protect democratic process.
tahir.hasan@thenews.com.pk
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ISSN 1563-9479 
