The PPP and the ANP should not complain of having suffered in the elections because of the Taliban onslaught on their election rallies. It must have had an effect and it was a gruesome form of pre-poll rigging but the real reasons were the perception of corruption of the major figures of both parties and bad governance. True, the PPP did raise the wheat support price bringing prosperity to the rural areas and encouraged the growing of food crops but people in the cities did not notice this. Moreover, the urban lower middle-class did suffer from the increase in food prices so not everyone approved of this measure. The PPP did create the Benazir Income Support Programme, which is the first step towards a welfare state, but if leaders are perceived as being corrupt, people do not believe that their programmes can be transparent. Other achievements of the PPP: the best-ever NFC Award to the provinces; the relinquishing of presidential powers; the empowerment of the provinces; the pro-women legislation — these did not make an impact on the man in the street. Asif Ali Zardari’s really good initiatives like trying to reduce the power of the agencies, offering no-nuclear-first-strike pact to India and trying to send the DG ISI to India after the Mumbai attacks were still-born. But Asif Ali Zardari was hardly the man who could take such initiatives. Perceived to be corrupt, he harmed the PPP by gathering a coterie of unpopular people whose only job seemed to be to keep him (not the PPP) in power and not let the Swiss courts pursue cases against him. Worst of all, the PPP did not solve the problem of load-shedding — created by Benazir Bhutto’s shortsighted policies in the first place — leading to alienation of the middle-class and the urban working-classes from the party. Similarly, the ANP was seen as corrupt and could not save Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa from terrorism. In a country which is confused about this phenomenon, the ANP’s successful battle against the terrorists in Swat and loss of leaders was ignored by the people who think that the PTI might have a solution to this issue.
So, now that the PML-N will be in power in the centre, it will be incumbent on it to learn from its own mistakes of the past and those of the PPP in the last few years. Nawaz Sharif will have to curb the tendency to adopt some stratagem like claiming to be a caliph of sorts in order to curb freedom of dissent. He will also have to stop hiding terrorists in Punjab and start taking serious note of those in the province accused of terrorism. And, unlike the beginning of his rule, he will have to stop strengthening the Ziaul Haq-inspired laws, which have made the lives of minorities and women hell in this country. Instead, he will have to promote his pro-peace policies which resulted in Atal Behari Vajpayee’s historic visit to Lahore (betrayed by General (retd) Pervez Musharraf through his mindless Kargil war). Indeed, he will have to save the Pakistani troops from useless deaths by pulling out of Siachen unilaterally. He should even go ahead with peace in Kashmir on the lines suggested by General (retd) Musharraf (one of the few good things he did) till India comes around. And, of course, his biggest challenge will be dealing with terrorism and the generation of power. The first will be very difficult since he, too, has been insisting in the past that this is not Pakistan’s war. And in this, Nawaz Sharif needs the help of Imran Khan. If there is one man who can convince Pakistanis that the war against the terrorists is their war, it is Imran Khan. Will Imran rise to the challenge or will he discredit Nawaz leading to five more years of random explosions? This, only the future will bring out. At the moment (Sunday, May 12), there is a new dawn in Pakistan. The results are coming in and let us hope they are accepted with grace.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 13th, 2013.
COMMENTS (12)
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pakistani people are celibrating their success in the election it does not matter which party has got mandate but democracy got succeeded in tthis very critical time i think all the things will get settled with the process of democracy
pakistani people are celibrating their success in the election it does not matter which party has got mandate but democracy got succeeded in tthis very critical time i think all the things will get settled with the process of democracy
@misbah: You have good reason to be optimistic - most provinces envy the position of Punjab. That's why people are always traveling there. You hear all kinds of horror stories about Karachi but it doesn't apply to Punjab so good reason to have hope and optimism.
@Ali Tipu: I live in Rawalpindi where despite load shedding there is development and there is not the instability you see in other parts of Pakistan. You should be objective and talk about the GT road overpass and the new Rawalipindi Cardiology Institute and the overall improvements in Rawalpindi instead of being negative. I suspect you are purposely ignoring the obvious because you have a bias. I disagree that the government is supporting groups to kill Shias in other provinces and you should not say unsubstantiated things. Metro Bus has undergone an audit and there is no foul play and is as successful as the motorways started by Sharifs. And yes I want to see a Metro Bus Service in Rawalpindi too.
LoL@the most developed Punjab. I live in the same Punjab where the PMl(N) gave tickets to LeJ people who kill Shias in other provinces. I live Rawalpindi and the fact is that Rawalpindi region has rejected Ch. Nisar and ML(N) and then they rigged and manipulated the results in their favors from NA-52, NA-53, NA-54. We don't have any electricity, any gas, any security and health facilities here The Thaana and Patwari culture still haunts us and going to the courts for your rights is a nightmare. Yes we in Punjab have Metero Buss built in Lahore that was built using iron and steel from Ittefaq foundries. Even though a lot of people died due to fake drugs and mediince here and eduvation sector is in tatters. Gujranwala board issued Matriculation results and one student who was actually passed was declared fail. He later committed suicide. 220 people died using PIC drugs and nothing happened. Who cares.
Looking at the election results, it seems Pakistan as a federation has taken a step back. Though complete wiping out of PPP from Punjab is very surprising, yet PTI getting largest share of seats from KPK is not unusual. In all three elections in PKP, electorate voted in different political party on each occasion. Going forward, PML-N has to stop relying upon political sloganeering and has to present workable and realistic plans to address energy crisis, terrorism, ethnicity, economy, civil-military relationships and foreign policy issues vis-a-vis the US, Afghanistan and India particularly.
@misbah: Ask yourself which province in Pakistan is enjoying relative peace and prosperity and you have your answer as to why people voted for PML N. I am from Sialkot in Punjab and I can tell you that violence and instability is not an issue in Punjab largely because of the policies and efforts of Shahbaz Sharif. He is widely respected throughout the province for his developmental work and initiatives to improve the province; He has done well which can be seen in many cities of the province including Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and Sialkot. No one can deny his energy, work ethic and passion to see the country develop. People may disagree with his schemes but no one can deny that he works tirelessly for citizens.I hope his party can now bring this same level of passion to the whole of the country to improve things for everyone! This is why the stock markets are upbeat.
"I hope he stops being corrupt now" - biggest joke of the century
i would like to know from our readers who live in areas of punjab, how was the nawaz led government in punjab?were you satisfied because i dont know how good he is and right now i could do well with some optimism
I would say what Zardari did for Pakistan even Bhutto could not have done. I am sure Punjab would relaize it in year. Zardar has prove himself a great leader.
Pakistani people need to be commended for exercising their voting rights in spite of the security threats. Also the political parties have by and large have been graceful in their defeat. Every Pakistani should rejoice this transition. As far India-Pakistan relationship let us not unnecessarily set high expectations.