The announcement of the polls schedule by the chief election commissioner marks the formal beginning of the election season. Nevertheless, things are not as they ought to have been on the eve of the impending electoral exercise that would decide not only the fate of rival contenders of power but also the future of democracy in the country. The government claims it is committed to holding ‘fair, free and transparent elections’, but the opposition parties insist that whatever steps the government has taken so far suggest that the stage has been set for ‘rigging the polls’. There was hardly anyone from across the political divide to welcome the polls announcement. The atmosphere had been vitiated by the imposition of Emergency and massive crackdown on political dissidents. Small wonder the opposition parties rejected the ‘caretaker administration’ as an eyewash and said that they reserved the right to consider the option of boycotting the polls. It goes without saying that under these circumstances it is not enough for the regime to unilaterally proclaim vows of holding ‘free and fair polls’, it will have to go an extra mile to persuade all the political players that it has no ulterior designs to stage a farcical show in the name of elections.
The need of the hour is to be seen as providing a level-playing field to all the competitors in the arena. Given the limitations of our political culture, the opposition parties would never acknowledge that they were entirely satisfied with measures to alley their misgivings, but some steps are anyway necessary to pave the way for a working relationship between the government and the opposition. Lifting of Emergency would go a long way in reining in the opposition’s venom and hostility and reduce uncalled for tension and bitterness from the scene of action. President Musharraf has hitherto refused to give a timeframe for the lifting of the Emergency, but political observers hope that he would do it earlier than being anticipated, perhaps soon after he takes oath of office for the second term. Release of all political detainees, and withdrawal of cases against them registered under the Emergency, is another precondition for bringing the situation close to normalcy. The process has already begun after the ‘caretakers’ took charge but it has to go on across the board without any exceptions. The curbs on electronic media must also go to allow the opposition a fair chance of coverage and projection of their viewpoint.
Critics had pointed out the polls would lack credibility if Nawaz Sharif was forced to remain in exile and thus not allowed to lead his party in the elections. In a dramatic move following President Musharraf’s short trip to Saudi Arabia, the PML-N leader has now returned to Pakistan with an official approval. Whatever has prompted President Musharraf to change his mind and condescend to Nawaz Sharif’s return which he had until recently publicly said would destabilise the political situation, is indeed a welcome step, as it has rectified a longstanding grouse of critics at home and abroad that the regime was not prepared to allow a level playing field to all the contestants. Some observers believe that the move was made to checkmate Benazir Bhutto’s belligerent posture in the wake of her deal with Musharraf falling apart, but regardless of the motive it has done away with the arbitrary disposition of the regime to sit on judgment on who amongst the politician was desirable and who still is a persona non grata.
You cannot clap with one hand. If the regime is willing to make amends for overdoing its authoritarian bid, it would be imperative for the opposition to settle for a half-way house. Notwithstanding all the customary ‘ifs and buts’, it is time for a measure of reconciliation rather than confrontation. Hopefully the opposition would henceforth refrain from pursuing ‘us or them’ brand of contention, and agree to observe some rules of the game to mark the advent of the ‘election season’. Their focus should now shift from agitational politics to electioneering. If Musharraf adversaries are not in a position to overthrow his regime through mustering street power, they should be pragmatic enough to acknowledge that the next best option for them is to compete with the King’s party in ‘catching votes’, rather than being here nor there in a wild goose chase. If they are prepared to sit across the table, rather than contemptuously rejecting all government overtures for peace and reconciliation, they could agree on a modus vivendi to ensure a smooth passage through the electoral exercise.
