As the general elections scheduled for January 8, 2008 close in there is a marked increase in the political activity across the breath of the country. Various political parties have launched their political campaigns. Many have announced their election manifestoes. Political wheeling dealing, adjustments, continues as part of electioneering.
In spite of the imposition of emergency and promulgation of Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) almost all the major political parties are going to take part in the general elections. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) is the sole party that will lose the most due to its boycott of the elections. The rest of the political parties that are boycotting the polls have never achieved any decisive victory in elections in the past.
The opposition parties formed various alliances for deciding whether to boycott polls or not but they failed to take a collective decision.
This lack of consensus amongst the opposition ranks even forced the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif to decide against boycotting elections.
He too jumped on the election bandwagon after the opposition alliance failed to reach consensus over the issue of boycotting polls. In spite of the fact that the nomination papers of Mian Nawaz Sharif as well as Mian Shahbaz Sharif have been rejected. Mian Nawaz Sharif since his landing is seen busy leading large public rallies and visiting different areas across the country.
Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto is also electioneering with full force. PPP was in favour of participation in the elections from day one, as it was difficult for Benazir Bhutto to boycott polls as per the conditions agreed upon after the promulgation of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).
The Pakistan Muslim League-Q has announced its election manifesto. PML-Q is making a mockery of the election commission’s code of conduct under its nose.
The most glaring example of it is the use of district, tehsil, union and town nazims in support of its election campaign.
Pakistan Muslim League-Q’s candidate from Rawalpindi, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed is openly violating the code of conduct issued by the election commission by availing official protocol. In addition to this the district, tehsil, union and town nazims are openly supporting the PML-Q candidates by getting various hoardings and billboards hung in the city streets. Besides this government vehicles are being used to run the election campaigns of PML-Q candidates.
Former chief minister Punjab and a premiership hopeful Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is contesting elections on three National Assembly and two provincial assembly seats. He has chosen those constituencies where the district nazims have their affiliations with the PML-Q. These district nazims are vigorously running his election campaign.
Similarly, Faisal Saleh Hayat, Amir Muqam, Sardar Yar Rind and Aftab Sherpao are enjoying official protocol in the name of security. These politicians are openly trumpeting success in the coming elections.
On the other hand the opposition is airing its hue and cry for holding of free and fair elections.
The accusations that the opposition parties are levying at the government seem to carry wait. Plans are being made to rig elections for ensuring the success of Pakistan Muslim League-Q.
For boycotting the polls, the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) tried to reach a consensus, but failed to do so in spite of the fact that a charter of demands was also prepared.
At the end the charter of demands resulted in the failure of APDM as well. Twelve parties out of the 37-party alliance formed an APDM of their own with Mehmood Khan Achakzai as its president.
After the homecoming of the chiefs of Pakistan People's Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, a wave of political ups and downs is visible. These twists and turns have now become an integral part of the politics of Pakistan.
Switching political affiliations and changing parties is no more an unusual practice among the Pakistani politicians.
Keeping in view the current political scenario it looks quite clear that PML-Q will not be able to grab a sizeable majority in the coming elections as Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif both are out in the election arena in full gear.
It seems that a single party will not be able to secure a considerable majority in the coming elections. A parliament so formed will be more of a hung parliament and questions are being raised as to how long such a parliament will continue to function.
It has been a tradition in Pakistan that the party that loses the elections accuses rigging in polls.
It is a dilemma that media in Pakistan is passing through a critical period of its history and is facing various curbs. Similarly, judiciary in the country is not free, the judges that refused to take oath under PCO are facing house arrest. Civil society, lawyers and journalists are out on the roads demanding their rights. They are demanding the political parties to boycott polls but on the other hand the political parties are not willing to leave the race for power and that is the reason that they are now talking less about the restoration of judges and freedom of judiciary. All this could result in a low turn out in the upcoming general elections.
On the other hand at last the Muttahida Majlise-e-Amal too has lost its existence as an alliance. Qazi Hussain Ahmed and Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman too have decided to split ways. Maulana Fazl who was lamenting over resigning from the assemblies is not willing to boycott elections under any condition. The JUI-F chief is still hoping to secure success in NWFP and that is the reason that he is not willing to opt out of the race for power.
