It is after a long spell of remaining in political
wilderness that Mian Nawaz Sharif has staged a stunning comeback into the political
arena of Pakistan. The 14 years that he has been cast away, he has witnessed
and gone through the most torturous times and phases of extreme sufferings,
grinding isolation and burgeoning stress. The people of Pakistani have elected
him in May 11 elections to lead the nation as its prime minister. It is a
massive demonstration of confidence that the electorate in Pakistan have reposed
in him.
In the wake of a bizarre turn of developments, Mian Nawaz
Sharif was deposed by the Pakistan army in October 1999 and the Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs and Chief of Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf became the new
head of the state. Now the situation has taken a 360 degree turn. The man, who deposed,
incarcerated and exiled Mian Nawaz Sharif and his family is now a captive in
his own palatial mansion declared as sub jail. Strange are the intricacies of
politics.
It is a well-earned and well-deserved victory. It has come
through a genuine democratic process known as adult franchise. The allegations
of rigging this time seem to be far-fetched and untrue. The army has played its
role commendably in the reinforcement and continuation of democratic order in
Pakistan. Even otherwise there couldn't be any plausible or earthly reason for
the armed forces to scuttle or sabotage the elections.
From the preparation of the electoral lists to the final
casting of votes, the environment was relatively and to a greater degree
conducive. There was a passionate urge both from the political parties and the
people of Pakistan for the elections to be held so that the new elected governments
could be formed at the center and in provinces.
By the grace of God and by the resolute willingness of the
people, despite the tedious and apprehension ridden period, the elections have
finally come through and with a fair degree of peace and poise. The elected
people are not angles but what is central to this coveted exercise is that they
have been elected through the mandate given by the people of Pakistan.
Both Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif are die hard patriots. They
are true Pakistanis and steadfast nationalists. We would have welcomed Mr. Khan
in the same exuberant vein as we are extending a very warm and hearty welcome
to Mian Nawaz Sharif. It hardly matters who the leader is.
What really matters is who enjoys the trust and support of the people. As far as Mian Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan are concerned their integrity and personal commitment to the welfare of Pakistan is indisputable.
What really matters is who enjoys the trust and support of the people. As far as Mian Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan are concerned their integrity and personal commitment to the welfare of Pakistan is indisputable.
We are also very happy that Imran Khan’ PTI would be able to
form the government in the disturbed and turmoil ridden province of Khyber Pashtoons
Khawa (KPK). It is hoped that the bomb blasts and suicide attacks by Taliban
and their ilk would come to halt or at least subside. That is going to be a
huge redeeming feature of Imran Khan’s victory in the troubled KPK province.
Amazingly the ANP that for decades was politically well-entrenched in KPK has to suffer a crushing defeat. It is for the first that ANP’s stalwarts have lost most of their traditional seats. This establishes the cardinal truth that the people are the ultimate arbiters and choosers of their rulers.
Amazingly the ANP that for decades was politically well-entrenched in KPK has to suffer a crushing defeat. It is for the first that ANP’s stalwarts have lost most of their traditional seats. This establishes the cardinal truth that the people are the ultimate arbiters and choosers of their rulers.
A very distinct and novel tradition of outflanking the invincible
political top-nothes has been established and that augers well for flowering
and fostering of a democratic culture in Pakistan. This pleasant and promising
trend has also been witnessed elsewhere in the country where unassailable
members of aristocracy, the elitists and feudal classes have been uprooted and
lost their seats which they have been holding for decades.
Whenever President Asif Ali Zardari was questioned about the
assassins of his wife and chairperson of the PPP, Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto, he parried
it by a vague phrase that democracy was the best revenge. One would wonder what
would he mean by revenge of democracy but certainly it has turned on the PPP leadership
who lost the confidence of the people to such an extent that they could win
only 31 seats at the center.
The PPP rank and file is demoralized and its structure
shattered as a result of the May 11 polls. In 2013 elections PMLN has won 126
seats. It is up by 55 (71 in 2008) seats. The PPP is down by 66(91 in 2008)
seats. Of the total strength of 272, a party needs 137 to form the government
at the federal level.PTI trails third with 29 seats.
The new prime minister and for that reason the winning party
PMLN would face a plethora of serious and intractable issues. The advent of
PMLN into power corridors is not going to be like entering into a garden party.
A whole range of thorny problems would be staring at the face of the new
government.
The availability of social services ranging from water, power, roads, education, health, to social justice and jobs are priority issues. In addition boosting shattered economy, reining endemic corruption, rampant terrorism and fragile law and order, to name a few would have to be addressed on war footing.
The availability of social services ranging from water, power, roads, education, health, to social justice and jobs are priority issues. In addition boosting shattered economy, reining endemic corruption, rampant terrorism and fragile law and order, to name a few would have to be addressed on war footing.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been profusely felicitated
by the world leaders, including King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, the UN secretary
General Ban Ki-moon, president Obama, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of
India.
With such enormous reservoir of goodwill one would hope for a
positive change on Pakistan’s external front. Pakistan needs durable peace
within the region and a greater understanding and amiability and good image
elsewhere. As the United States would be vacating Afghanistan, Pakistan would
the best indispensable partner to look after the interests of United States. It
might also be possible that Taliban and other militant bands can be inducted
into Afghanistan’s political set up.
Those Taliban and stray militants who are in Pakistan, can somehow
be pacified through a mechanism that does not bring the society under their sway,
There are gigantic hurdles that have to be surmounted by the new government as
part of rebuilding a new prosperous, socially modern, geographically stable and peaceful,
economically vibrant and militarily strong Pakistan. It seems a tall order but
if “there is a will there is a way”.
Mr Qureshi has distorted the facts both in the overturning of Mian Nawaz Sherif's earlier government and today's election win. There is no question about the attempt of the PM to murder the Cheif of Army Staff and 300 odd Pakistani citizens. And as events are unfolding on the media and on the street of Pakistan the elections have been rigged. The difference this time around is that people are aware and social media is disseminating the facts at an unbeliebly fast pace. The problem is that the previous generations of politicians let things get to their head very quickly. They believe they are better than the rest of the citizens of Pakistan and some among us such as Mr Saeed Qureshi, endorse this belief. Unfortunately, the only mandate the present self appointed PM has received is from people who have no interest in Pakistan and its citizens.
ReplyDeleteIt was incumbent upon Gen Pervez Musharraf to initiate a legal case in the court of law for a conspiracy to kill him and the remaining 300 passengers. I am not aware the actual number of the passengers on that aircraft.
ReplyDeleteIf there has been massive rigging then the rival parties can contest his victory in courts again. My emphasis on his victory is not for an individual but for the system. If it had been Imran Khan I would have welcomed him with the same intensity and seriousness.
I have written in that article that the elected people are not angels. After all the PPP cadres were also elected in the 2008 elections and there were also questions of rigging raised at that time. Rigging cannot be totally eliminated in any system no matter how foolproof. In United States where electoral laws are hard to bend, the rigging takes place. But this is in no way to approve the odious practice of rigging.
With the refinement of society such malpractices would be automatically discarded. But traditionally in Pakistan and may be in India the losing parties play up the bogey of rigging and manipulation of results.
In case of Mian Nawaz Sharif it cannot be a rigging to such an extent that they were changing the ballot papers and other distractions and the rival parties representatives were sitting silent. Or he could manipulate results in over 100 seats. There were no protests or bitter reaction from others. JI does not have a vote bank. They would always complain of rigging.
Having said that it is good that the election commissioner has announced reelections in the disputed constituencies that are around 45 in the center. Let us watch who takes those seats.
Saeed Qureshi
Dallas, US
I was born in what is now Pakistan and majority of the Sikh shrines are located in Pakistan including the birth place of Guru Nanak. So we are always happy to hear any good news from Pakistan. The present election in Pakistan and stability of democracy there is good news. As it is widely reported by Press, Nawaz Sharif, next Pakistan Prime Minister, has already “vowed to pursue better relations with the US while seeking "warmer ties" with India. Nawaz Sharif was a friend of Pakistani Sikhs when in power before and was instrumental to the formation the Gurdwara Management Committee in Pakistan. Through this committee Sikhs now manage their own shrines there. Sikhs from all over the world are free to obtain Visa and visit their shrines there and help Pakistani Sikhs in managing them. We look forward to further improvement of these relations. We are happy for the Pakistani people that democracy is raising its head in that country of strife and mis-management. We are looking forward to improved cultural exchanges and trade both between India and Pakistan, and, between USA and Pakistan.
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