KARACHI:
A few days ago, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters stormed the congress buildings and invaded the presidential palace. The protesters damaged and vandalised the buildings and continued protesting outside the congress buildings even after being dispersed by the police. Bolsonaro and his supporters have refused to accept the results of October’s elections in which Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emerged victorious. Many have drawn parallels with the Capitol Hill riot in the US by Donald Trump’s supporters.
Given that the general elections are right around the corner, I cannot help but worry that a similar situation may arise in Pakistan. It is highly likely that the losing party will not accept the election results and accuse the winning party of rigging. In addition, non-democratic forces will be urged to intervene to resolve the democratic issues. The concerned authorities should undertake measures to prevent such a situation. The foremost thing to do is ensure that the election process is transparent. The chairman of the Election Commission should be someone who all parties agree with to avoid accusations of biases.
All stakeholders should work together to control the worsening economic situation as it is raising frustration among the masses. Political parties should avoid dividing people along cultural and ethnic lines as it will further polarise the people and intensify hate increasing the likelihood of a civilian conflict after the elections. The public must avoid looking for a saviour and instead be their own saviour by being aware of their civic rights and uniting with each other against corrupt politicians.
Haleema Sadia
Kallar Syedan
Published in The Express Tribune, January 11th, 2023.
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