(7th May 2013)
Elections and the security situation
The ongoing election campaign has been marred by threats and the violence perpetrated by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), with the militant group having challenged the writ of the Pakistani state, as well as causing countless deaths. Since the start of the election campaign, the liberal parties — the PPP, the ANP and the MQM — have been threatened time and again. Thus far, nearly 50 political workers have been killed and dozens of major and minor attacks have been launched by the TTP. In most cases, the TTP have owned these horrific events.
More worryingly, Pakistan’s federation is also under attack. Much of the violence is taking place outside the populous province of Punjab, creating an impression in the smaller provinces that they remain insecure and denied of a free environment to elect their representatives. Leaders of political parties are carrying out successful campaigns in almost every part of Punjab but the liberal parties under threat are scared to hold even corner meetings. In the post-election scenario, it is unclear how far the elections would be taken as fully legitimate by the parties and the public opinion from the smaller provinces.
The response of the caretaker governments at the centre and the provinces has been less than satisfactory. It was only after the escalation of violence that the caretaker prime minister addressed the nation and promised protection and crisis management. However, the day he expressed this intent, several attacks were carried out by militants. It would be unfair to hold the interim governments fully responsible for the chaos in the country. Violent extremism is a deeper issue and terrorism has afflicted Pakistan for over a decade now. Nevertheless, it was expected that the caretakers would have focused on their primary task in a more coordinated manner.
In this regard, the statements coming from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the interim government are revealing. With days to go before the elections, the two seemed to be engaged in a bureaucratic wrangle. According to reports last week, the ECP declined the caretaker prime minister’s decision to place the administrative control of the National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC), presently working under the interior ministry, at its disposal. Thus far, the NCMC, mandated to coordinate between all law-enforcement agencies, has not been all too effective. The chief election commissioner, citing a Supreme Court judgment, reiterated that the chief secretaries of the provinces and the chief commissioner Islamabad are responsible for maintaining law and order.
That the executive authorities are in charge of security is well known and this is how it should be. But in the absence of parliamentary oversight, perhaps the ECP could play a more proactive role. If it does not want to take charge of the NCMC, it should ensure that there is regular monitoring of it during the election season. The NCMC, for much of its existence, has been just another bureaucratic outfit. Its work and achievements remain shrouded in mystery. All law-enforcement agencies need to be working closely with it and there is an urgent need of leadership.
Similarly, in the provinces, all intelligence agencies should coordinate with one another to seek information on the plans and movements of militants. The public needs to be taken into confidence and there should be an effective means of seeking information through safe helplines about the likely attacks of the militants. In 2013, the people of Pakistan will look towards the civilian caretakers and the military to implement their assurances. The sensitive polling stations have already been identified by the authorities and it is time to seek the military’s assistance to provide a fool-proof cover to these areas so that Pakistanis can elect their new government. Despite the absence of a level playing field for all political parties, the caretakers and the executive agencies can still rescue the uneven election process. They must not fail the nation which has struggled for democracy for much of its existence.
Rare Triumph
Pakistan’s Aamir Atlas Khan ended a 15-year wait for the country as he triumphed at the 17th Asian Individual Squash Championship on May 5, beating Kuwait’s world number 33 Abdullah Al-Muzayen 3-0 in the final held in Islamabad. The last time Pakistan won the individual event was in 1998 when Zarak Jahan Khan won the coveted title. However, Aamir, who ranked 61 before his victory, was able to add to the list of squash trophies owned by the country that now features its ninth Asian individual title.
Aamir, who was unfit when his compatriots were preparing for the event, was also indebted to the Pakistan Squash Federation since the body delayed finalising the squad by a week to make way for the 22-year-old. The achievement was extra special since the event was hosted by Pakistan, which has seen a drought of international fixtures ever since the 2009 gun attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, which took away the country’s hosting rights for the 2011 cricket World Cup and cornered Pakistan into isolation where no foreign athlete would dare visit. But it seems that some progress has been made.
Pakistan hosted the Asian Snooker Championship recently before the squash event took centre stage. Aamir’s triumph has also sent out a gentle reminder to the world that sports is still very much alive in the country despite it being barred from hosting high-profile international events.
The win also spells a good omen for the country’s squash players, giving them a timely boost before they gear up for the upcoming British Open and the World Squash Federation Men’s World Team Championship next month. For Aamir, it may be a taste of things to come as he looks to improve his world ranking. His development as a player is hardly a surprise as Pakistan has a rich history of squash legends. It would hardly be a wonder if the Peshawar-born player is another one in the making.