I.A. Rehman
THANK heavens election 2018 is over, though the bitterness in addition to acrimony it generated volition have got long to subside. Many people have got won the contest, many times to a greater extent than have got lost. The existent winners seem to last the much-maligned in addition to resourceless citizens who remained truthful to their commitment to democracy, a scheme whose benefits they have got never enjoyed. They braved all kinds of hardships yesterday, including bad weather, in addition to trudged long distances to uphold the majesty of the ballot box. They were also swell to evidence the political pundits wrong.
The Election Commission of Islamic Republic of Pakistan had a gigantic describe of piece of work on its hands. Except for its undue in addition to unusual reliance on armed forces personnel — reverse to its assurances, armed forces officers were acquaint inwards polling booths — the committee managed the polling fairly well. The grooming of polling staff in addition to safety contingents was, however, inadequate: at a number of places observers carrying ECP cards were denied entry into polling stations past times presiding officers in addition to safety men.
The suicide bombing inwards Quetta, inwards which to a greater extent than than thirty people died, in addition to the killing of an activist inwards Swabi, could alone last unreservedly condemned. There were scuffles betwixt challenger activists in addition to betwixt them in addition to the polling staff but, considering the dry soil of polarisation in addition to the tensions generated past times the challenger parties, the election could last described every bit to a greater extent than or less peaceful in addition to orderly.
Throughout the polling menses reports kept coming in, to a greater extent than often than non from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, that women were non beingness allowed to vote. H5N1 few days earlier the poll the ECP was approached amongst a electrical load that inwards 4 districts of KP, the diverse political parties had signed a compact, ie they had conspired to occur women away from polling stations. Election 2018 did non pick out an cease to the organised denial of women’s correct to franchise.
The inquiry at in 1 trial is where create nosotros become from here?
It was, every bit usual, a competition express to privileged moneybags in addition to owners of hereditary privilege. But at that topographic point were also inwards the champaign at to the lowest degree a few who tried to remind the people of what a democratic election should last like.
I felt sad that I was non a voter inwards Islamabad in addition to could non vote for Ismat Shahjahan or Ammar Rashid, who were considered crazy activists past times most people in addition to utopians past times around because they solicited votes on the strength of service to the people of Islamabad in addition to their agreement of their problems. They could non win but they did succeed inwards exposing the most fatal flaw inwards the election system, namely, that inwards most elections, people amongst modest fiscal agency have got had lilliputian gamble of making it to the assemblies.
I wished I were a voter inwards Karachi in addition to had been able to accompany Jibran Nasir on his canvassing tours in addition to seen his tormentors threatening him amongst hellfire. In fact, I was to a greater extent than unlucky than my Christian neighbour, Javed, who belongs to a hamlet inwards Kasur district, lives inwards Lahore, has a Lahore address on his CNIC in addition to has his vote registered inwards Karachi. Why didn’t he instruct his vote transferred to Lahore? He is 1 of the millions of marginalised Pakistanis who have got to work, or occur looking for work, circular the clock to remain afloat. The stark fact is that a large number of pathetic citizens were unable to cast their votes because of mistakes inwards the electoral rolls.
Quite a few other issues on the electoral reform agenda remained unresolved. The demand to brand arrangements in addition to thence that the Pakistanis living abroad could practise their correct to vote was recognised many years ago. Nothing came out of the half-hearted gestures made during 2014-2016 in addition to 1 hopes the thing volition last pursued inwards the coming years amongst the seriousness it deserves.
There are reports that a large component division of the jail population could non participate inwards voting. The primary argue is that the prisoners were asked to vote past times postal ballot. H5N1 flake also much was expected of them. More efforts should have got been made to guarantee prisoners’ democratic correct to elect their representatives. Voting is essential therapy for prisoners, a message to them that piece they have got been punished for an offence, social club wants them to reclaim their condition every bit law-abiding citizens.
The inquiry at in 1 trial is, where create nosotros become from here?
In the invective-driven election campaign, at that topographic point was lilliputian room for discussing the multiple crises of the state. The election manifestos issued past times the mainstream parties were wishing lists compiled on the footing of citizens’ oft voiced grievances. Nothing incorrect amongst that if credible ways of coming together these grievances had been spelt out. The gaps inwards these manifestos were extremely wide. Nothing serious almost overcoming the economical crisis, the growing remainder of payment crisis, the burgeoning external in addition to domestic debt, the liberate energy shortage, in addition to growing unemployment. Nothing meaningful almost unusual policy in addition to the imbalance inwards civil-military relations.
What this agency is that the novel authorities volition have lilliputian guidance from the election drive rhetoric in addition to it may have got to autumn dorsum on the same rusted bureaucracy that has dragged the dry soil downward inwards almost all moments of trial in addition to is incorrigibly addicted to cite hocism. Much fourth dimension may last lost inwards finding a way out of the mess created past times decades of bad governance.
Besides, the election has pushed the dry soil farther to the right. The forces of pseudo-religious extremism unwisely fostered past times the institution are unlikely to ho-hum downward their drive for curtailing whatever lilliputian liberty is allowed to women in addition to the media. The persecution of minorities could increase. There is no indication that civil social club volition last allowed to operate inwards peace, which agency its counsel volition non last available to the government.
Difficult times prevarication ahead for the people of Pakistan.
Published inwards Dawn, July 26th, 2018
Buat lebih berguna, kongsi:
