Done and dusted

Unofficial results for the by-election in Karachi’s NA-246 constituency (Azizabad) have indicated that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) is a clear winner; 71,122 votes ahead of its nearest rival, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which garnered 22,000 votes. The Jamaat-e-Islami came a distant third with 9,000. This is the result that most analysts and commentators had forecast. The PTI had predicted a different outcome but in the end their man fared worse than their candidate in the last election, a drop in support rather than an increase. Turnout overall appears to be lower but we await a definitive figure.

The final results aside the election was something of a success for the democratic process itself. There were no major breakdowns of law and order, nobody was killed, there have been no allegations of substantial rigging and people who tried to interfere with due process were caught and summarily tried. At least two found themselves in prison at the end of the day. A rare instance in which summary justice is appropriate. The paramilitary Rangers kept order across the constituency.

Viewed objectively and taken as an exemplar, the result shows just how little the core politics of Karachi has changed, even allowing for the PTI emerging as a political player in the city, though not yet a force. What is equally clear is that it is possible to hold elections that are, for the most part, free and fair but only with the overwhelming deployment of police and paramilitary forces. There can be no doubt but that for their presence the electoral process would have quickly been corrupted and subverted. The political process may have been well served but the politicians and their supporters did it few favours. The behaviour of some political activists of rival parties demonstrated that our political culture could do with a dose of tolerance. A complete absence of tolerance was observed throughout the campaign, and inflammatory rhetoric was audible throughout. There was a clear ‘win’ for the democratic process on April 23 in Karachi, which is a very good sign for our democracy. A growth in political maturity would be equally welcome.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2015.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.