Winds of change in Pakistan

Letter January 26, 2013
The question now is should people believe in rhetoric of different political groups on bringing change in the country?

ISLAMABAD: All that has been happening on the political front in the country over the past six months has left everyone confused. Widespread speculations vis-à-vis the rapidly changing political scenario further adds to this growing confusion. People are at a loss to understand, which political group they should believe and support and which one is not worthy of support. With the general elections fast approaching, all political parties seem to be harping the same tune. They are vociferously making tall claims of bringing about much-needed ‘change’ that this country so badly requires. They are also talking about empowering the electorate of this country, which actually possesses the power of electing and placing people in positions of authority to govern. These political groups are also making big promises regarding fulfilling basic needs of life (food, shelter, education, health, employment, etc.) as enshrined in the Constitution.

Undeniably, whatever the political parties are promising are issues that have always been central to the interests of this nation. The fact of the matter is that such commitments were also made by every government that was elected to power in the past. Unfortunately, however, none of them made any sincere effort to fulfil them. It is a fact that in this country, people mattered to the rulers only for serving their personal interest and greed to come to power. Once voted to power, neither the people nor this country ever mattered to them. Had they been sincere in dealing with the affairs of Pakistan in a just and judicious manner and had they honoured the promises they made, then today’s Pakistan would have been a different country.

The question that now arises is should the people believe in the rhetoric of different political groups on the issue of bringing change in the country? Should they vest their trust, once again, in those who have deceived them repeatedly in the past? If we look at the political history of Pakistan, the spontaneous response should be ‘no’. Since, however, things have to keep moving in the life of the nation, some decision in this regard will have to be arrived at. The best way for the people to ensure that they are not deceived, once again, by the power-hungry is that they should exercise their right to vote judiciously. They must vote those political parties out which have been brought to the citadel of power by them, time and again, but have failed to deliver. They should instead make conscious efforts to vote those people to power who are of unquestionable integrity and unparalleled competence and have not been tried before. But all this would be possible only if the chief election commissioner and the Election Commission of Pakistan are made independent and powerful. Needless to say that it would also be imperative to revamp the country’s electoral system and make it absolutely infallible if the above objectives were to be achieved successfully.

M Fazal Elahi

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2013.