A Rashid

The good and evil put together by the outgoing coalition government, headed by PPP, though squares off in public eye, which is an over simplification of a complex issue but in reality the ramifications will be far weightier than that.
The evil aspect involving corruption and misrule of the administration under discussion, being so elaborate and transparent, need not be dilated upon. The fall-out of this aspect is not lasting as it is orchestrated by individuals at the helm of affairs, for transitory personal gains, at a particular time. Individuals come and go but the institutions stay to influence the lives of posterity.
The good aspect, involving legislations that strengthen the democratic institutions, speaks louder than words. Numerous landmark legislations had been done by the outgoing legislators that will go a long way in helping to raise the vitality of the democratic institutions.

There is a glaring example from the contemporary US history which candidly portrays the comparative influence of individuals vis-a-vis the institutions. United States of America absorbed the fallout of the erratic behavior of President George W Bush, owing to the presence of strong democratic institutions in place.

Despite rampant financial corruption and inefficiency of the government, we find Pakistan at a defining crossroads due to the landmark legislations passed by the legislature, maintenance of conciliatory attitude of the top leadership of the coalition government throughout their term and a free media. We find a glaring departure from the past style of governance during the preceding five years. Vindictiveness against political opponents through authoritarian oppression, the strong arm tactics, blackmails and gagging of media were not resorted to at any stage. Even the vilest opponents of the government did not complain about these aspects. The outgoing government also earned an extraordinary feather in their cap by maintaining the country’s jails free of the political detainees.

A democratically elected government has completed its stipulated term of five years, first time in our history. And now the nation is bracing to go to the hustling for the next general elections. The kind of meticulous, hectic and highly professional activity encompassing the election gear is unprecedented and is greatly heartening. One need not have intuitive abilities to grasp the rationale of how this professionalism has replaced the perpetual arbitrariness of the past annals. Constitutional amendments necessitated by the needs of the time have done this magic.

To give (false) credence to the electoral process, in the past, caretaker set-ups were constituted, arbitrarily, out of the same lot of politicians. The 18th constitutional amendment introduced by the outgoing parliament, with consensus, laid down the procedures and the criterion for selection of individuals forming the caretaker setup. The result today we see is in the shape of universally believed neat and clean governments in the center as well as the provinces. It has happened for the first time in memory that the caretakers have prevailed to correct the wrong doings of the outgoing incumbents that fall in the category of pre poll rigging. The caretaker government has scrapped the last minute contract awarded to NLC for construction of roads in the constituency of former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf. The former two prime ministers have also been deprived of the fabulous police contingents earmarked by the outgoing prime minister for their personal security. No such precedence of frugality and justice is perceptible in the past.

The past practice regarding constitution of election commission was also arbitrary, that made it possible to have one’s favorites in the election commission’s machinery. This time around the election commission has been constituted in line with the dictates of the 18th constitutional amendment. There is consensus, not only the consensus of political parties, there is consensus at national level about the status of the commission being above board. In fact the whole world is watching the unfolding of the electoral processes in Pakistan with awe and acclaim.

The election commission is burning midnight oil to evolve a perfect mechanism to scrutinize the qualifications of candidates for the national and provincial assemblies. As far as possible, dual nationals, convicts, loan and utility bills defaulters will be barred from contesting the elections. I am conscious of this being a very tall order in the prevailing conditions and time frame. But at least a beginning has been made towards a foolproof procedure to be adopted in future when adequate time will be laid aside for this reform.

The outgoing government, in addition to an unprecedented liberal National Finance commission (NFC) award, has devolved the following ministries to the federating units: Zakat and usher, special initiatives, population welfare, youth affairs, local government and social welfare, special education, tourism, livestock and dairy development, sports, health, environment, women development, labor and manpower, food and agriculture and minority affairs. These reforms have greatly elevated the provincial despondency.

The supreme court of Pakistan took a serious notice of the accesses of the security agencies in Baluchistan and adopted several measures to restore the confidence of the people of that province in the future of Pakistan.

Cumulative effect of the above reforms, including the electoral reforms; liberal NFC award and devolution of ministries to the federating units, have gone a long way in arresting the fast deteriorating law and order situation in the insurgency stricken province of Baluchistan. Most of the Baloch nationalist leaders have resultantly come in line with the democratic process being pursued and have decided to participate in the coming general elections. This to my mind is a great leap forward in cementing the unity of the federation.
During the last five years the people of Pakistan have enjoyed a free and vibrant judiciary. Not a single incident to the detriment of judiciary occurred during the period. So much so that an elected prime minister was sent packing home on the charges of contempt of court by the Supreme Court and not a finger was raised.

One is aghast to find so many good things happening in our beleaguered federation, which, so far, has only known that it is faced with the most critical circumstances at all times of its existence. Thanks to the landmark legislations done by the outgoing lawmakers, which has facilitated putting together the electoral apparatus of the country with relative ease. The institution of election commission was established with consensus. Caretaker prime minister was chosen with consensus from Baluchistan and the chief ministers of all the federating units assumed their respective posts in time and with consensus. Here the selection of Punjab chief minister merits special mention being from the journalist community. Najam Sethi, a senior journalist, was chosen for the slot, with consensus. In this consensus the senior leadership of PMLN too was on board. Although at one point of time in the past Mr Najam Sethi was put behind bars by the PMLN government, headed by Nawaz Sharif, on vindictive and false charges of sedition etc. Honoring Mr Najam Sethi with the slot of the chief minister of Punjab with the approval of the same leadership of PMLN speaks a lot about the journey we have covered on the road to democracy.

On the directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, NADRA has developed software to facilitate exercise of vote by the overseas Pakistanis. Not only that such a facility is being made possible first time in country’s history, such a provision is not available to some of the countries with highly developed technologies.

The outgoing government has though completed its stipulated period of five years but we all know that it lived from moment to moment. The political opposition, the defense establishment, the higher judiciary and above all the media, all were for its throat all the time. At the home front, the coalition partners constantly maintained the sword of Damocles hanging over their heads. They were, all the time on the lookout to blackmail the treasury to extract one benefit or the other. Last but not the least has been their perpetual fight against terrorism and sectarian malaise. The government treaded from one crisis to the other. Yet the leadership kept their cool, did not lose nerve and have thus reached the goal post intact.

Some elements belonging to the conservative right are always spitting fire and predicting a bloody revolution round the corner. The current elegant process of smooth transition of authority in a democratic manner should be a forceful reminder to these elements that it is in democracy and not in a bloody revolution, rests our emancipation. The democratic evolution, fortunately, is on course and we all must sail with it.

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