Present violence against all centre of left parties is naked use of force embedded in Pakistani society and system.
LONDON: This with reference to your editorial “TTP’s campaign against elections” (May 1). In Pakistan, there has always been a struggle between progressive and conservative forces. If we look critically, we may find that all institutions of the state and procedures are heavily skewed in favour of conservative political parties. These institutions and procedures create hurdles that thwart the easy and smooth entry of any liberal or progressive party into the system. The present violence against all centre of left parties is a naked use of force that is embedded in Pakistani society and system. That is why we do not see any protest or strong and credible condemnation of the violence against liberal parties.
People who are unleashing violence against these progressive parties are not doing it because of their misgovernance or corruption; they are killing them because they know that they are the only forces which are against their agenda of terror. Do not forget that the JUI-F, the PML-F and the PML-Q were also part of the previous government but they have not faced any attacks because of their conservative agenda. If the TTP were given a choice to select which political party they would like to see in power, their obvious choice would be one of the right-wing parties of the country.
Imran Bhatt
Published in The Express Tribune, May 3rd, 2013.
