JUBAIL, SAUDI ARABIA: Though military dictator General Ziaul Haq died a quarter of a century ago, he is virtually still ruling the country, thanks to the amendments he made to Pakistan’s Constitution. The changes he made were to please his partners — religious and right-wing political parties — to perpetuate his illegal stay in power. Now, these amendments have become a bone of contention in the nation’s throat, which is unable to both swallow it or throw it up. Take the case of the Hudood Laws; any woman complaining of rape was liable to be sentenced until she produced witnesses to prove her claim. Take the case of the blasphemy laws, whose misuse has taken its toll in form of countless murders, killings, jail terms, burning people alive, looting and destruction of property — this is the fate of not only religious minorities but Muslims as well.
Now, some devilish mind thought to enforce another legacy of Zia — the Constitution’s Articles 62/63 — to preselect potential candidates for the upcoming May elections. Returning officers (who happened to be judges and law officers from local courts) were empowered to perform this task. The type of questions they have been asking while interviewing prospective candidates have made a mockery of Pakistani democracy. It shows how far these law officers can go to implement Articles 62/63, which is tantamount to rigging the elections.
One would have thought that we are moving towards a historic moment by marking a transition between two elected governments, but as usual, we have taken two steps backwards in exchange for a single step forward. The credibility and authenticity of the whole electoral system has been ruined by those produced by the establishment to live up to Zia’s legacy.
Masood Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, April 10th, 2013.
