Trying circumstances: Keeping the campaigns quiet

Militant threats have caused all parties to be cautious across the province.

PESHAWAR: In addition to reducing election activities of the Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the increase in attacks on political parties in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has also become a source of worry for other political parties in the region.

Stalwarts of the former coalition partners have been forced to suspend election campaigns or limit their political activities during the countdown to Election Day. The developing scenario has also raised fears of low voter turnout as the polls approach.

The month of April witnessed escalating election-related attacks, primarily against the ANP, in almost every big city of K-P, including Peshawar, Swabi, Mardan, Charsadda, Nowshera, Karak, Kohat, Bannu as well as the southernmost district of DI Khan.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has singled out the ANP, PPP and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) as its targets.

However, almost every political party is dealing with security concerns for its workers, activists and leaders particularly when they gather in large numbers or rally openly. The militants’ strategy to deal with the election’s momentum has halted other parties such as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, Qaumi Watan Party and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf from reaching the full potential of their campaigning capabilities.



So far, around 22 sabotage acts have been carried out on the ANP, PPP and independents candidates, killing 55 and injuring over 150 others.

ANP’s stalwart Ghulam Ahmad Bilour and Haroon Bilour survived a suicide attack in Peshawar. Life attempts have also been made on several other ANP leaders.

PPP candidates have also dealt with assaults with Zulfikar Afghani, a PPP candidate from NA-1 Peshawar-1, facing a hand grenade attack on his house. Similarly, MQM candidates are not even in a position to display party flags and posters, even though the party has fielded candidates on both the national and provincial assemblies.

The consequences of the unrelenting attacks have resulted in party leaders ordering the closure of offices. Political activities including corner meetings have also been halted. The nature of election activities has changed to employ alternate means to reach supporters such as Skype. A comparatively safe and less risky option, which the ANP candidates are resorting to, is to embark on door-to-door campaigns.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2^nd, 2013.