Whither the merit?

Electoral politics in Pakistan is all about petty personal interests. Apart from nepotism and unresisting recourse to dynastic linkages, there is hardly anything left for the common man in the national mainstream. Moreover, there is an abject camouflage of provincialism, and almost all political parties have played the card of affinity when identifying their course of action. This has inevitably strengthened race, caste, lingual, ethnic and sectarian considerations in choosing candidature, and not merit or proficiency to any trade or achievement.

General elections, as well as nominations for Senate, follow the same nomenclature, and those who campaign or struggle for a cause in social strata are hardly picked up for legislative forums. There are very few exceptions, though. This apathy is evident at the local tiers too, and that is why Pakistan has not been able to address genuine public issues at the grassroots level, and has remained groped in chaos and confusion.

The upcoming elections to the upper house of parliament, likewise, are marred by sidelining of political workers, and the who’s who have prevailed. While allocating seats, all the major political parties have kept personal consideration above merit. It has become customary at times to identify the chosen few with the prefix of MNA or Senator, rather than recalling their names, or contributions et al. Old faces or their kith and kin, unfortunately, are an indispensable reality in politics, and still all political leaders have the audacity to talk of popular participation and stirring awareness among the masses.

The PMLN, PPP, ANP, and JUIF have hardly opted for any exceptions, other than their trusted and favoured clans and families. JI and MQM were, however, the only departure as they came up with commoners as their candidates. The PTI of post-2022 is another valuable addition, as it has taken a departure from electable by fielding amateurs for 2024 general elections. At the Senate, however, all have fallen victim to politics of affiliation, rendering a blow to mushrooming of democracy and faith in representative politics.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2024.

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