The writer is Editor of The Express Tribune
What is more shameful is the lack of regret being shown by their political rivals. Asfandyar Wali informs us that the only two parties that expressed sympathy with the rising death toll of his party’s workers are the PPP and the MQM. The rest remain silent. There should have been more magnanimity. But then, possibly magnanimity would have put them out of favour in other quarters.
Ludicrous was the statement by Imran Khan in which he told the Taliban to be patient in their attacks as “very soon we will have a totally new government in place.” In other words, a government that is of their liking. Is this where we are heading?
But there is a catch here. If the bombings continue, will we be able to have a higher voter turnout? It is the high turnout that is expected to change the status quo in our elections this time round. What if we scare away our new voters?
At the same time, when we see where the bombings are taking place, we do realize that these are areas that are strongholds of the older parties. In other words, the voters of these parties are being scared into staying home.
Our attitudes to all this is also somewhat puzzling. I recall once I asked President Zardari a very simple question when he had newly assumed office. Why was it, I asked, that we had hundreds of people coming out on the streets when there was a drone attack but no one protested suicide bombings, which killed ten times more people. He agreed with me but then said little else.
I give credit to Sherry Rehman, in her position as information minister, who tried to create more awareness about the victims of suicide attacks. How their families had been affected, how lives of thousands had been destroyed by the meaningless attacks. But she didn’t get very far and soon had to abandon the project.
Possibly the election was stolen with the installation of this caretaker government. The government is doing nothing to provide an level playing field for all parties concerned. It is quite a contrast that some parties can hold rallies with fear of any attack and others cannot even hold corner meetings without being bombed.
The caretaker chief ministers are also a joke. More so of Sindh, Balochistan and KP, where the security forces cannot guarantee the safety of candidates even at corner meetings. And yet they insist of hiring thousands of more policemen.
Here we can give hundreds of security men to protect a former military strongman but we don’t have the same will to protect those who want to come to power by contesting elections.
But this is an election of contradictions. Equally strange is the manner in which the country’s biggest political party has simply given up. While the ANP and the MQM continue to struggle and do some electioneering, the PPP is strangely very quiet and has not held any major political rally after the December Benazir death anniversary gathering.
Has President Zardari, who continues to call the shots in the party, decided that the PPP should concede the elections to the PML-N? Or is he simply being pragmatic and waiting for the MNAs to be elected before starting the politics of Jor-Tor.
There are some who suggest that the PPP and the PML-N have some understanding under which they will rule one after the other. This seems to far-fetched to be believed. The deals, if any, have been made elsewhere. The exit and re-entry of a green-haired “technocrat” may be a case in point.
It is one thing for us to pray that all goes well, another to do something about it. So far, the government has been unable to do much. No one of any consequence has been arrested. So will we be seeing the postponement of election or calling in of the army? Only time will tell.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 29th, 2013.
COMMENTS (25)
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Well written! we all what is the reason behind doing such attacks just to postpone the elections bcoz only few parties want this....Every single person is afraid of getting out just because of the worst condition. I don't know what these parties get by killing innocent people and still our caretaker government is sleeping instead of taking action.
its a clear view for all of us that what they want!! it seems like elections will be held in Punjab only!! not a single person bothered to investigate about the bomb blasts, the number of death is continuously increasing in different cities...instead of arresting the terrorists they are blaming others for these incidents...I personally want army to overtake Pakistan!!
on the basis of lists and surveys a huge turnout has observed in these elections so, in my opinion all these blasts and attacks are clear cut planning to reduce voters . almost everybody whom i talked is fearful to cast vote on may 11 as everybody is scared of these blasts and attacks because off course "sab ko jaan pyari hai" as the days are passing. fear is also increasing and our caretaker government is just watching instead of taking some effective steps
Well, if we say that the attack on Party should be condemned, so I think it is useless as pointing fingers does nothing to further the fight against terrorism. Furthermore, in their own government people were killed so how can we say that they are sinless? The analyst (name not mention) said that basically they harvest what they sow. Also in my opinion we can’t predict about the cause of these attacks as history shows that sometimes to gather sympathy parties also play this “brutal game”. After all, (who ever behind it) they should analyze their acts, as in this brutal game many valuable lives of innocent people have already lost. In addition, think about the injured people (affected by the so called "terrorist attacks") since after this, what is the future left for them (as already unemployment is prevailing in our country)…..
The targeted attacks on these parties is really a question mark on what the caretaker government is really willing to do. And as far as election commission is concerned i can't rely on them. I think Asafandar Wali need to be more concerned about the security issue rather than on pointing other parties. I have no idea by whom these parties are being attacked, but if someone is thinking that they can fool us again and can gain sympathy so we are no more fool.. if they are being attacked either by Taliban's or by someone else so there must be something that they have done with others..
'Hijacked elections'should have been a more appropriate heading but that doesn't take away anything from a well penned editorial. In this case, the hijacker TTP had issued a clear cut warning well in advance to the law enforcing agencies that it would be hijacking the Elections plane targeting specific passengers and naming them as well. But the security forces despite this advance warning failed to rise to the occasion to provide adequate protection to those threatened or take pre-empt action instead allowed the hijacking to take place as planned by the hijackers. However, let me fore-warn those passengers who are feeling safe as well as elated in this Election plane being spared by the hijackers on board that they too would be targeted by them after the plane lands ie after elections are over with security forces watching from the sidelines as before.
ECP and the interim government fails to give protection to any party and public. Terrorist are trying to postpone the election. These attacks on particular political parties arise big questions either they are actually victims or they wanted to gain sympathy by doing so??? If the situation will remain same, then it is predicted that, the turnout would decrease.
I agree with the point that why other political parties are not raising their voices against the attacks on political rallies or meeting?? Is the reason is only that they are not the victim of the bomb blast series which is going on since last 6 days?? I also supports the writers view on the turn out issue because in such law and order situation in the biggest cities of the country the revolutionary new voters will back off as the security conditions are going on the worst side day by day.
Considering the situation that is prevailing in southern and northern Pakistan, it looks like we will be tasting a piece of both... As for new voters... Don't feel they will be turning out this time either. Most of them, when i interviewed have already said 'Humara vote pehle he dal chuka hai'...
Great article, Mr Kamal. You are the voice of reason.
TTP are nobody's friends. Today, it's the outgoing coalition they are targeting. Tomorrow, the parties in power will become targets whoever they are because these loonies are challenging the state. In any case, nobody can rule out that the PPP, ANP and MQM would be part of the ruling coalition/s. So, they will again be under attack like they have been in recent years. This is a very dire situation. PML-N will surely have to deal with the TTP from May onwards.
The election is not stolen. It is being robbed every day in broad day light.
@HASAN ABIDI: Objective resolution 1949, operation searchlight 1970, designating Ahmadis as non-Muslims 1974 . As you can see all these events predate Zia. Zia did not set the direction though he may have accelerated the radicalization.
Author: Is this the frst 'stolen election' in Pakistan? Sheikh Mujib Ur Rehman might beg to differ.
Call in the army or delay the elections?? We can't afford either! The show must go on
This is not stealing but larceny and hijacking in broad daylight. The advantage goes to the rightwing parties and they are happy about the results. Like 1990 the only way rightwing parties can ever win especially in Sindh, KPK and Baluchistan is to use the strategic assets of ISI.
Well analysed
@HASAN ABIDI: dear, u also had a legacy of COMMANDO, why not mentioning him, bcz he was Secular?
I was watching a show on TV a few days ago. Interestingly, the host(i won't quote his name), said that, "at times, political parties(that we think are under attack) use violence(bomb blasts, having political people killed etc) and scenes like those that we are seeing in a few cities of Pakistan like Karachi, to gain public sympathy that is equal to VOTES." In such cases, no campaign of any of the 'other' political parties takes place in the cities under attack, and at the same time the parties that are 'considered' being attacked, get votes.
However, I agree with what Kamal Siddiqi has talked about in his write-up. The confusion in our brains that exists these days, has been brought down in this piece very nicely. We can only hope that the elections don't get postponed, and Pakistan becomes a safe place to live in Insha'Allah.
Yea it’s a mere fact. Well whatever else says, it is actually obvious through past days that this time we are going to be a part of elections no more. Once Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed in one of the talk shows said, "2013 k elections Pakistan ke history k subse khooni elections hongey." Well I am not in his favor, but he predicted right.
Only TTP cannot be blamed. Simply they claim the responsibility of all the terrorists activities But!! There are other elements which are involved in hatching conspiracies for getting desired results, and to remain silent without any regret is suspicious.
So far what are we gifted from 2013 elections? Daily Blasts? Firing? Killing of innocent people? In short FEAR. And now even I am getting scared. It’s not with me actually but with my nation, how can we face a massive turnout if same goes on and on. Huge turnout in #Punjab doesn’t count actually. #Roshan Pakistan and #Naya Pakistan is next to impossible if security issues are not taken into account and without considering all the provinces equally.
And to clear my perspective to those who think they have an optimistic approach, guys this Provincial & ethnic divide with these terrorist attacks is not created by people themselves, it is based on the ground realities.
Its look like a bush second term when they were using the same tech. by the way kamal sahab have seen how good these leftist are in last therty years and we need change which is gonna be no other than imran khan.
Couldn't have put it better ! You're spot on Mr. Siddiqi
Very well written piece Kamal shb.
I guess, as a nation, v r still being haunted by the nightmare of Pakistan's biggest curse....The Zia Legacy.
Pakistan, truly at the crossroads.
HASAN ABIDI hasanwazir1@gmail.com