Democracy is a numbers game which every party needs to understand.
JAMSHEDPUR, INDIA: This is with reference to the article “In defence of the PML-N” (September 25) by Mohammad Zubair. The people of Pakistan have experienced living under PML-N rule and know what it was like. Why can’t the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) be given a chance now?
In a triangular fight among the PML-N, the Pakistan Peoples Party and the PTI, the party that succeeds in arresting the slide in its vote bank will win.
In this scenario, the PTI appears to be in a better position. However, its organisational set-up at the lowest level needs to be strong enough to bring their voters to the polling stations. Without this, it will be very difficult for the PTI to succeed.
If the public continues to vote on the lines of ethnicity, provincialism and other narrow factors, there will be hung assemblies and all political parties will have to learn to live with a coalition set-up, which, too, can help to some extent in keeping a check and balance on all stakeholders. Democracy is a numbers game which every party needs to understand.
PR Sharma
Published in The Express Tribune, September 26th, 2012.
