Arun Joshi
In less than a week’s time – to be precise on Thursday , February 8, Pakistan will be going to polls to elect new government . Normally, the outcome should determine the popularity of the parties in contest , and the final victor after counting of votes . That’s the normal practice in the countries where leaders to rule are chosen through ballot . In Pakistan , it is not that. It is farcical exercise . Undeniable hints of the party find reflection on the manipulated electoral exercise . And that has been done by the all-powerful institution of the country- Army . If you please army, you win and if your annoy the uniform you risk so many perils in Pakistan . It has been like that for decades in Pakistan – when army is not ruling directly , it manipulates the elections and its outcome . They create a government by proxy .
This time , there are many harsh and brutal things that have come to light , and no one is daring to challenge or change that, because army has enhanced its role beyond its own redlines to which had been adhering to in the previous elections, events preceding and following the electoral exercise.
The things are so bad in Pakistan that the commentators have been terming this as a “ dark days for democracy” .This darkness , they have traced to the frequent terror attacks, targeting of jailed leader Imran Khan’s party – Pakistan-Tehreek—Insaaf, and how its rallies have been targeted with bombs, and also how the party leaders of consequence have been jailed or forced to quit the party. The role of the army, police , other institutions including Election Commission of Pakistan and judiciary .
It is all indicative of a big conspiracy not only against PTI and Imran Khan , but it seemed that this is a conspiracy against democracy , whatever is left of it , in February 8 National Assembly polls. The people, particularly the youth, have sense this disastrous phenomenon . There are very thin crowds at the political rallies, crowds are keeping them away from the usual and hackneyed lectures of Pakistani politicians, which they know count for nothing .
In an editorial in one of the prominent newspapers Dawn, these aspects were explained this phenomenon of disillusionment with the polls and politicians in a succinct manner. It captures the picture and mood of the nation. The newspaper asked a question with an immense sense of concern : “ Is it not ironic that both the literate and illiterate sections of Pakistani population almost equally ignore the words uttered by most post politicians? And is this attitude not a verdict on the incompetence of the politicians.”
There was also a sense of regret and frustration that the newspaper noted in stating that “ no political party seems ready to lead the country amid issues like currency devaluation , soaring inflation , rampant corruption , unemployment , political instability , weak foreign policy , and poor literacy rate. The parties want to win the polls without having any clue how to handle the critical and sensitive issues of the country., and as it has been put in very precise manner , each of these parties remains desperate to be in the “ driving seat without having idea of the direction one wants to drive in.”
This is undeniably an indict of politicians, but the army chief Gen. Syed Asim Munir is living in his own world . He thinks the army alone can give direction to the country. Recently, he was in a gathering of youth of universities , where he lauded the tax paying capacity of the army .And , he also warned the electorate that they should not falter in making right choice in the polls . The sensible people in Pakistan have started asking as to why did the army involve itself in the national political discourse on the eve of elections . They stopped short of saying that such ominous happenings were leading the country to dark days for democracy.
Arun Joshi is author of “Eyewitness Kashmir; Teetering on Nuclear War and senior journalist based in Jammu and Kashmir, writes on South Asian affairs)
Disclaimer: This is the personal opinion of the author. The views expressed in this write-up have nothing to do with www.prameyanews.com.
