A state of intimidation

There are 11,855 candidates against 15,629 in 2013 and there are 110 parties in the contest

The days are ticking past and the election draws nigh. There is a sense that this election may be unlike others in that foregone conclusions may not be as foregone as they were historically. The number of candidates in the field has dropped significantly, in part a direct result of more effective scrutiny and a raising of the fee that allows candidates to participate. There has been an almost 25 per cent decline in the number of runners and riders, with 11,855 candidates against 15,629 in 2013 and there are 110 parties in the contest. In parts of the country the race may be tighter than of yore and there are those who are attempting to influence the outcome of the ballot by the use of violence — violence designed to intimidate those participating in the democratic process.

Such is the level of violence that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Sunday July 1 wrote to the caretaker chief minister of Punjab to express concern over media reports of ‘harassment and physical threats’ meted out to candidates in various places and without naming names — names are never named — the letter blamed the ‘authorities concerned’ for a failure to prevent such incidents, and fell short of saying that they were in fact the work of the ‘authorities concerned’. The letter also reminded the interim CM of the briefing he received on June 25 that made him aware of ‘the threat to political leaders and contesting candidates.’

The fact of the matter is that ranged beside, beneath and in front of the legitimate candidates for elected office there is a range of forces and entities that have their own electoral agenda, and if the achievement of that agenda requires threats and violence then they have not the slightest compunction about using it. They have no party — though they have their favourites — and no published manifesto. They have no shortage of funds and considerable traction when it comes to the intimidation of the media across all platforms — print and electronic. The State of Intimidation is alive and well, and augurs ill for all our futures.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2018.

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