A bloodied transition

Both ECP and caretaker governments should have taken greater measures to ensure a safe and secure environment.

The celebration of a smooth transition to democracy will for some be tainted by the violence that has characterised the days and weeks leading up to these elections. Among those affected is obviously the family of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani — the target of a high profile abduction just ahead of the elections. The former prime minister’s son Ali Haider Gilani was kidnapped on May 9 in his hometown, Multan, after attending a street corner meeting.

Haider is contesting elections for a Punjab Assembly seat. His secretary, Muhammad Muhiuddin, and another associate were killed by the gunmen who abducted Haider. President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed grave concern at his kidnapping and described it as a most reprehensible act of a cowardly enemy. According to the Gilani family, Haider had been receiving death and kidnapping threats from the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP). Despite these threats, security was not provided to Haider and the government had even withdrawn official guards.

While Yousaf Raza Gilani’s call for calm and peace is commendable, the Punjab caretaker government must be held responsible for the kidnapping of Ali Haider Gilani. On April 27, Yousaf Raza Gilani’s sons’ private guards were detained and their weapons confiscated. As per the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) code of conduct, there is a ban on display of weapons in public meetings and processions. In Pakistan’s bloodiest elections, such rules put candidates at risk and leave them vulnerable; one cannot expect the candidates to secure themselves from an enemy that has the capacity to strike at will.

Both the ECP and the caretaker governments, federal and provincial, should have, in this environment, taken greater measures to ensure a safe and secure environment. This was not the time to restrict security, especially in the face of threats and also given that, of course, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan have targeted the PPP, the MQM and the ANP specifically in these days.

It is hoped that Ali Haider Gilani is recovered soon and his kidnappers arrested.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2013.