Smooth sailing

There was no major surprise once again in the results of the second phase of the local bodies elections in Punjab and Sindh. The PML-N and PPP took firm control of their strongholds in Punjab and Sindh respectively, leaving little room for the PTI which fared particularly badly. The MQM predictably dominated Hyderabad and the PML-N managed to make some inroads in Sindh. Independent candidates remained strong vote grabbers once again. The performance of the PPP in Punjab will be a cause for concern. This may seem nothing new, but the defeat at the hands of the Zulfiqar Mirza group in the Badin area will be a blow to the ego of the PPP leadership as PPP Co-chairman Bilawal Bhutto himself led the election campaign in the district. In Punjab, the PTI failed to show promise once again despite the early warning of the first phase of the LB polls; and Sindh was no different. The chances of the PTI emerging as a serious opposition to the PML-N’s development policies have been dented. PTI chairman Imran Khan has now resorted to criticising the Punjab and Sindh governments of using the police to harass candidates in the election. The elections largely remained peaceful with no casualties unlike the first phase of the LB elections, though even the 25 injuries and one death that took place in Mandi Bahauddin need to be eliminated. The usual flaws and loopholes in the massive voting process led to at least 100 complaints being lodged, mostly regarding misprinted ballot papers or symbols.
Several areas of concern can be identified. Polling was postponed in around 90 union councils due to unlawful delimitation, an issue that could have been resolved much earlier. In a union council in Sargodha women were denied the right to vote based on an agreement between the PML-N, PTI and independent candidates. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan raised concerns about the difficulties faced by women in some other districts to cast their votes. It is now for the ECP to nullify the result in the union council where women were banned from voting. However, the fact that civil rights activists were able to campaign in Mianwali and ensure women voted – despite a jirga agreement that aimed to prevent them from doing so – is a good sign. The turnout was high but the fact that we see a country being divided along political lines into the fiefdom of separate parties is a trend that perhaps needs greater attention in the context of what it means to our politics as a whole. The results confirm, if nothing else, that genuine alternatives to the traditional politics of Pakistan have yet to be found. Given the option to choose someone different for their constituencies, the LB elections have shown a preference for the governing party. The trend seen in the unofficial results for this phase will likely be reflected once all the results are declared. This, however, should not mean that the PPP and PML-N now rest on their laurels. This renewed mandate means an even greater need to deliver what has been promised to the people. Lessons must be learned as the ECP gears up for the third phase of the polls.