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Elections 2013: It’s my way or the highway

Elections 2013: It’s my way or the highway

If you vote for a right-wing party you are an extremist; If you vote for a nationalist party, you are a separatist.

Farahnaz Moazzam May 01, 2013

In a politically charged environment with Pakistan’s most voter-aware elections just a few days away and sentiments running high, it seems even the most liberal among us have forgotten that agreeing to disagree is a basic tenet of a democratic set-up.

I may not be an absolutist when it comes to freedom of speech, but am certainly one who believes that we all have a right to peacefully express what we feel, whether in the form of a discussion at a chaai dhaaba, on twitter or in the form of my vote. And this right belongs to all — the right-wing, the centrists as well as the left-wing.

Yet, patience levels seem to be hitting an all-time low currently. And the mere mention of support for a certain ideology — may it be political or religious — has many people jumping the gun and assuming things that are far from the truth. Clubbed with the assumptions are buzzwords that irritate the other side even more.

Things heat up and very quickly everything stops making sense. What is left is a hot exchange of sarcastic labels and a misuse of buzzwords that are out of context. A widening gulf in an already polarised society.

If you are, for example, not voting for the three parties being targeted by extremists currently, you can quickly be labelled as a supporter of extremists, or worse still, an extremist yourself. If your vote is going to a nationalist party, you are branded as a separatist. If you vote for a secular left-wing party, you are labelled as anti-religion. And if you vote for a rightwing party, you are described as an extremist or a naïve rightist who is anti-minority rights and is on hunky-dory terms with militant groups.

We, as a nation, are becoming too categorical in our beliefs and try to proselytise others to our way of thinking, and that is simply not fair. And sadly, this behaviour is visible from both the right and the left, with a very shrinking percentage of those in the centre, who are at times tempted to just choose one side and give up on moderation because there is strength in numbers.

Pakistan’s, and this world’s, hope for peace lies in a middle ground, not in a moral high ground.

Read more by Farahnaz here or follow her on Twitter @FarahnazZahidi

WRITTEN BY:
Farahnaz Zahidi

farahnaz-moazzam

The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (9)

Manoj Joshi India | 10 years ago | Reply @Pakistani: That is perhaps your way of looking at the issue with regard to elections and Indians taking interest about the internal affairs of Pakistan. This is a two way relationship and concerns both sides. The next government in Pakistan and their policies do concern their next door neighbour. We desire Indo-Pak Friendship.

Pakistani | 10 years ago | Reply The article had nothing to do with elections or the political structure of Pakistan. It surprises me that 'educated' people read the article and then post completely irrelevant comments for I don't know what reason. What also surprises me is how much interest Indians take in Pakistan's internal matters. I wouldn't give a damn what's going on in India and I know a lot of people like me. Especially not go out of my way to keep track of an Indian News forum and comment like it's my business.

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Manoj Joshi India | 10 years ago | Reply Negative political ads are a usual phenomena in any democracy and a part of growing or development of a democratic system in any state. Pakistan is no exception in this regard. This has been the thumb rule in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, USA, UK or for that matter any nation of the world that is a democracy that the opposition will present the negative picture of non-performance or the ruling party or alliance and the ruling alliance will try to project the opposition in poor light. In case of UK (United Kingdom) the situation is different as they are a mature and a very well developed democracy; democracy in United Kingdom has evolved over three hundred and fifty years. The evolution having been by customs and conventions; while in case of The United States of America it has been through a defined rigid constitution. India has evolved into a mature democracy during the past sixty six years and Pakistan is now evolving into a democratic nation. The basic strength of Pakistan as well as India is their social structure which is more than four thousand years old and there is a system of family and social relationship that binds the people of these two nations. Setting aside the brief past of the last sixty to sixty five years the social matrix of the two nations has been almost the same. As regards negative advertising during elections the political phenomena is common to Pakistan as well as India hence, the people alone need to decide as to which party they need to elect and see that a strong and stable government is elected at the centre that can give a stable and efficient administration to the country. Anti-incumbency is a normal phenomena that develops if any political party has been in power for a long time; two to three consecutive terms; and at times on completion of the first term itself as one can very well see in the two countries. The reason behind anti-incumbency is because any political party no matter how hard they may try cannot perform in absolutes and a few errors, mistakes and lacunae or serious political issues; like scams; do come up which then leads to the change of guards. Pakistan too, might see this change or the present ruling party might return to power or form the government however the goal that remains for the government and the people of the country is to further the growth of democracy in the state. Negative advertising need to taken as a part and parcel of electioneering and the evolution of a mature democratic system.

Manoj Joshi India | 10 years ago | Reply The elections being held in The Islamic Republic of Pakistan are indeed a difficult exercise for the Election Commission of Pakistan to conduct. The challenge remains that is conducting a fair and peaceful election in the Islamic Republic. Democracy is still at a rather nascent stage in Pakistan when compared to the other neighbouring nations and is still to reach the desired level of maturity. The media too seems to share an apparently apprehensive perception about the entire electoral process which has certain reasons that cannot be overlooked. The voter's dilemma as to which party to vote for that can give a strong, stable and efficient governance to the nation and with it maintain democracy as the system is a rather trying and not so easy a judgement for the voter to take. In the name of patriotism and national interest voters are driven away from a path that is rational and analytical to a path that they should not be treading on to. Pakistan being a budding democracy is faced with a situation wherein pessimism and dilemma are very much visible in the public mind. The media too that remains the watchdog does inadvertently create a hype or phobia with regard to electoral malpractices which although true get blown out of proportion. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan needs to move forward in a cautious and sincere manner that is the only way democracy can take roots in the country. The present election is indeed a test for the people of Pakistan which they need to qualify should they desire to see the nation as a moderate and democratic country besides a nation that moves forward politically and economically.

Muhammad Awais | 10 years ago | Reply Everyone should cast vote to change tha pakistan, because we need it, we are tired of this loadshedding, so sensibly cast vote to those which u can think they are sincere for their country.

Bilal Khan | 10 years ago | Reply Predicted final seats for each party for National Assembly Elections 2013 Party Sindh Balochistan Punjab KP/FATA Total PPP 26 - 7 1 34 plus or minus 5 seats PMLN 2 5 112 7 126 plus or minus 6 seats PMLQ 0 1 5 0 6 plus or minus 4 seats PTI 1 3 23 33 60 plus or minus 6 seats MQM 20 0 0 0 20 PMLF 7 0 0 0 7 Others 4 20 Note: Approximately prediction for 12 seats is missing due to non availability candidates lists. So this prediction is for 260 general seats. These predictions are not scientific but based on triangulation of previous election results and latest survey results (which may be un reliable at province level). Thus there are some limitations in these predictions. This is more of an experiment using best publicly available data triangulation.

Mikaail | 10 years ago | Reply There is everything wrong in trying to convince someone who does not want to be convinced and has already made a choice who to vote for, or in general. This preaching disease is what we as a nation need to get rid of. If someone doesn't endorse your views, they try to either change yours or if that doesn't work, they belittle you and attack your beliefs or choices. PTI supporters always seem to claim the 'moral high ground' and think anyone voting against PTI is voting against Pakistan. I'm voting for PTI too but I don't think someone voting for PML-N doesn't know why he's voting for them or has some sick motive behind his choice. Two words: Tolerance and acceptance.

Tariq Ali | 10 years ago | Reply Thank you for writing on this important subject. However, the fact is that our attitudes are merely a reflection of our life perspectives. And the development of our life perspective actually begins with our understanding of life. I mean the way we address questions like: who created us and what was the purpose of this creation etc. Such questions are addressed by religion and history tells us that religion has mostly existed in distorted forms. As a matter of fact, the history of religion informs us that it has been used as a tool by many for mundane gains. Any way, before I generate more confusion let me say this: the point I am trying to make is that if a person is not willing to address the most important questions relating to our existence then how can he/she act in a sensible manner. For instance, when I go to my workplace I know that it is my workplace therefore I behave accordingly. On the contrary, if I behave in any other manner at my workplace I would be fired from my job forthwith. Since I know the consequences of misbehaving, therefore I always behave. Likewise, if we do not have a right perspective of life, our behavior will never be appropriate. And now the reality of our lives is that we never pay serious attention to our Creator and the most visible proof of that is that we hardly any movement of people across religious boundaries. If I am born in "Faith A", I live my whole life in that faith because I never question the values and faith of my ancestors. That is not a good sign for any society. It was for this reason that the separation of church and state took place in the West. The faith of Islam has also been suffering for centuries because its adherents are mostly following the tradition of the forefathers rather than faith. At any rate, faith is an individual's private matter and that is what we learn from Quran when it says that there is no compulsion in faith. After all, life is a trial and therefore I must have a freedom of choice. In Pakistan, we do not believe in that. My argument is that unless we resolve such basic questions how can we live as a sensible nation. In the absence of the prevalence of sense, no nation can make any progress. Therefore, whatever is happening in Pakistan is a true reflection of our values. Pakistan will only change if we change. And in order to do that, we will have to address the basic questions relating to our existence. This is a very complex subject and it is not possible to do justice with it in a couple of paragraphs. But I hope I have made my point. I would conclude by saying that change will only come when we change ourselves. And by change, I mean we must live by following commonsense which will ultimately lead to everything right.

HSM | 10 years ago | Reply I don't see anything wrong in trying to convince someone about your ideas or beliefs, but yes, a show of tolerance should be practiced.

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