The May 11, 2013 general elections are historical in the sense that for the first time in electoral landscape of Lower Dir the womenfolk will be allowed to exercise their right to vote. In the past the women had been barred from casting votes in the pretext of the so-called cultural taboos and traditions by the male dominated society of Dir Lower despite hue and cry by the HR watch dogs. However, this time all the political and religious parties have placated not to bar this half of the passive population of the district from voting.

Thank to the new development that Mrs Nusrat Begum -who accepted the challenge and was vigorously running her election campaign as an independent candidate to give tough time to her male challengers in the constituency.

Over 27 candidates of almost all major political parties and independents are in the run in 2013 general elections on one national and four provincial assembly seats in Lower Dir district. They included former ministers, parliamentarians and national level leaders.

Electoral history of the green lush Dir valley is evident that two mainstream political parties - People’s Party (PPP) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) - had always fought neck on neck bout and the same is expected in the May 11 general election as well. But political pundits predict that it will no more be an easy task for both the parties as new political forces are getting roots in the politics of the district.

As Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf PTI is a new emerging political force in the country. PTI Chief Imran Khan charisma could be felt in most parts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa incuding Dir Lower.His recent visit to the area added his popularity in youth in Dir Lower. However, Tsunami will take time to wet the lofty mountains of Dir Lower. Moreover, the party has no sage political figure to alter the status-quo. According to official data, the total number of registered voters in NA-34, Dir Lower is 490042 in which 290968 are male voters and 199074 are female.

Apparently, NA-34 is considered to be a stronghold of Jamaat this time due to the voters’ staunch religious tendencies in the region and failure of former ANP and PPP-led regime to solve masses problems. In the past, former JI Amir Qazi Hussain Ahmad and other JI-backed candidates had won from this constituency. However, the arch-rival PPP too had defeated the Jamaat candidates or got full benefit of its incomprehensible boycott form voting.

In the 2008 elections, JI fading out boycott provided ‘a piece of cake’ to the customary confronter Malik Azmat Khan of PPP-P, who bagged 38068 votes by gashing down ANP candidate Muhammad Ayub Khan. But this time, PPP-P former State Minister Malik Azmat is facing Sahibzada Yaqoob of Jamaat-e-Islami, Qazi Fazal Ullah of JUI-F and ANP’s Muhammad Azam Khan etc. The rival contesters will prove stumbling blocks in the way of his victory this time. His zero performance during his tenure and fading popularity among constituents has put Malak Azmat in disarray. So JI candidate Sahibzada Yaqoob has an edge in NA-34 in absence of any sagacious politician on the part of ANP and PTI is now a new emerging force in national political arena while JUI has no popularity to combat.

Similarly, 41candidates of different political parties and independents are flexing muscles to snatch the four provincial assembly seats (PK94 to PK97) from its respective constituencies. About 80 candidates are in the sprint to make new electoral history or revive the old one. Earlier, JI and PPP were also been rivals on this front but ANP too had once gained a seat and remained in power for the last five years so it is right to claim that its vote bank has increased manifold.

Mehmood Zeb Khan, former PPP provincial minister and former JI MPA Muzafar Said will face each other in the upcoming electoral battle at PK-94. Apart from them ANP candidate Muhammad Ayub also joined the race. Last time, Mr Ayub had lost to Malik Azmat of PPP by acquiring 24480 votes in 2008 for NA-34. Former PPP two-time union council Nazim Muahmmad Ibrahim has annoyed from party leadership and he would not favor Mr Zeb. Similarly, ex-PPP office-bearer Malik Inam Khan has parted ways and now contesting elections from the PTI platform.

Moreover, Mehmood Zeb will be the tough contestant against Muzaffar Seed as he is being backed by PPP Senator Ahmad Hassan Khan, who belongs to his hometown. Being a provincial minister Mr. Zeb annoyed heaps of voters which could benefit Mr. Seed. The history of PK-95 is totally discerned from rest of the three provincial constituencies.
Irrespective of the PPP, JI and ANP had always proved tough contenders for each other while the PPP had no such vote bank to name the seat.

The JI candidate Sardar Alam Bacha had succeeded many times from this constituency. In 1993 elections, for the first time ANP had landed its candidate Haji Bahdur Khan who won this seat. After that, JI candidate Siraj-ul-Haq combat the 2002 elections from MMA platform and revived the party past electoral glory as he was sworn in as senior minister in former MMA regime. Just prior to 2008 elections, JI announced boycott, meanwhile, Hidayat Ullah Khan left JI and joined ANP to get party ticket. As a result, he fought 2008 polls and not only secured his seat but also got the provincial ministry in ANP-led government.

Now nine candidates are in the run for next election including JI central vice Ameer Siraj-ul-Haq and ANP’s former provincial minister Hidayat Ullah. The third force is Malik Rehmat Khan of PPP but he is politically drowsy and dormant. Former ANP ideological MPA Bahadur Khan has parted ways from the party and is battling for the seat as an independent candidate while facing both the fronts. However, the political wrangling among ANP ranks and absence of yet a third political force will definitely help Mr Siraj to sweep polls.
In PK-96, former MPA Saeed Gul will face Muhammad Zamin Khan of PPP. The former had won the election from MMA platform while the later had fully exploited the JI boycott by securing his seat in 2008 general elections. Intra-party rows are also widening in this constituency as Zahir Shah of PPP has decided to join the electoral battlefield as an independent candidate which could also hamper vote bank of Mr. Zamin.

The most-crowded battlefield is likely to be PK-97 where 13 candidates have the intensity and ferocity for each other. The JI Sultanat Yar, JUI-F deputy chief and ex-senator Maulana Gul Naseeb Khan, PPP’s Dr. Zakir Ullah, Qumi Watan Party (QWP) provincial secretary Bakht Baidar Khan and ANP’s Hussain Shah are at loggerheads. Dr. Zakir Ullah, who named the seat several times from JI deck, had switched over to PPP-P just ahead of 2008 polls where JI was in boycott. He got hold of the seat being landed from PPP platform by taking advantage of JI boycott.

Like others, Sulatanat Yar is also step in for PK-97 seat. He may attract PPP’s annoyed voters being member of a well organized party. QWP Bakht Baidar had secured the same seat from the PPP platform but later on he left PPP and joined QWP. Pakistan Sunni Tehrik (PST) allotted ticket to Zeen-Ul-Arifeen whose party representing the Brelvi school of thought. In past, PST remained hand-in-hand with Bakht Baidar because it had no candidate. Insider revealed that this religious outfit could obstruct Bakht Baidar’s votes bank and Bakht Baidar has lost mount of votes in Asbanr and Chakdara-Ramora union councils. Anyhow, they argued that both Sultanat Yar and Bakht Baidar will be proved main contenders.

Candidates have steam up their electioneering and electoral hustles and bustles is getting imputes as polls coming closer. The situation here is favorable for JI and it seemed that it may clean sweep. Anyhow, it is too early to forecast election fog correctly for parties and candidates. Let us wait for a while as May 11 will accurately unveil the electoral destinies of all.

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The first ever political government completes its much trumpeted five years and the political parties are preparing for next general elections scheduled on May 11, 2013. During these five years, the ruling coalition had complete freedom to make policies and run the government. Yet, their achievements remain mundane at best. Most of the legislations that were hurriedly passed by the elected representatives were aimed at bolstering political image rather than creating lasting impact on the well being of Pakistani people.

Similarly, various development works and schemes, barring a few, essentially focused on drawing political mileage. No sincere efforts were made at the national level to address the grave challenges faced by the country and alleviate the misery of common man. A review would be essential to highlight challenges that the next government would inherit.
The recent terrorist attack on the Shia community in the Abbas town, Karachi, has again reminded us of the painful agony that the innocent people of Pakistan continue to face. It is continuation of the recent spate of anti-state terrorist activities to further the gulf in the society by instigating Shia-Sunni divide.

The ongoing killing of the Hazaras in Balochistan and the targeting of Shia population in Karachi is a case in point. As if this suffering wasn’t enough, burning down the houses of Christian community in Lahore compounded the misery and sense of insecurity amongst religious minorities.

There has been no letup in the targeted killings and lawlessness in Karachi and Balochistan. Since the time we decided to side with America’s (Global War on Terror) over the last decade, the country has been gripped by violence unleashed by terrorists which has been cashed by the criminal elements. Despite the resilient and brave fight by the Pakistan Army deployed in FATA and Waziristan, especially the major reversal in Swat, the terrorists continue to operate and target with virtual impunity in major cities.

The unabated wave of terrorism has further dented the already damaged societal fiber of social harmony on religious and ethnic lines. While there may be foreign influences involved in these perpetual acts of terrorism, acute poverty, illiteracy and a general sense of insecurity add to the deterioration matrix.

Resultantly, Pakistan is being portrayed as a lawless country which is a safe haven for terrorists. Understanding the gravity of the situation is most vividly needed. Preserving our unity is a major task to successfully navigate through this quagmire. While our ancestors got us independence against heavy odds, we are morally bound to preserve our ideology, sovereignty and national integrity.

It seems that a scripted narrative is at play to weaken the very foundations on which Pakistan stands. On the other hand, opportunists amongst our leaders are embroiled in their competition for power and influence. The state has thus been at the mercy of individuals, whose only objective is to cling to power, whatever it takes.

The deepening differences among the provinces and sub nationalities tend to decimate our notion of nationhood. The viciousness of the situation has divided and scarred our people. One cannot help recalling the dismemberment of Pakistan’s eastern wing in 1971 that caused a serious blow to our integrity. While because of our nuclear capability a full-scale conventional war would be inherently risky, sub-conventional warfare is being perpetrated by our adversaries. We must express and sustain our resolve - never again.
To implement such a resolve, the absence of a true and visionary leadership remains a vital challenge. We are besieged with plethora of complex challenges that starkly stare us in the face. Successive martial laws that put military dictators in power, have failed badly. Besides highly fragile economy, major challenges include an acute disunity as a nation, confusion of identity, sectarian disharmony and a huge ethnic divide that cuts across the nation.

Due to colossal mismanagement of economy, rampant corruption, exorbitant increase in proportion of foreign loans, huge debt servicing, shortage of electricity and gas etc have made the country vulnerable to further manipulation by foreign powers and international financial institutions. To add to the complexity, the dysfunctional institutions heralded by politicized or disillusioned bureaucracy, less than perfect judiciary, rampant corruption and incompetence of our leaders impedes formulation of just and fair national policies, judicious allocation of resources and above all the implementation snags.

Despite our large natural reserves of gas, copper and coal, huge human resource, vast coastline, weather, diversity in terrain and an advantageous geostrategic location, we have never fully capitalized on our advantages. We must learn to stand on our own and capitalize upon our strengths, before the windows of opportunity start to close.
This nation and its armed forces have weathered many calamites. Only a resilient nation can survive what we have passed through the last few years. The prevailing situation merits very serious endeavors for developing cohesion within the country and to put it on the path of prosperity.

A number of steps can be taken to achieve these objectives. We should hold the resolve that led to the creation of Pakistan. We must endure this tough test of time with strong will and determination. We direly need sincere leadership chances of which are bleak at best. But it has rightly been said that “when the going gets tough, the tough get going”, our choices will make the difference.

We must vote for change because drawing room talks and criticism will not change anything.

The political and military leaders must jointly evolve a comprehensive strategy to counter the menace of terrorism and religious intolerance in the society.
The political leadership should endeavor to embed our ethnic and linguistic identities of Punjabi, Pakhtun, Sindhi, Muhajirs or Balochi merge under a national banner. Print and electronic media can be used as effective tools for promoting the national harmony. Recalibration of foreign policy with the US, India and Afghanistan will be an important undertaking for the next government. Post-May 2013 elections, huge challenges await the next government. Pakistani people have placed very high hopes in the future leaders.

(The writer is a Ph.D candidate at Quaid-i-Azam University)

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I believe the most solemn duty of the Chief justice of Pakistan, Chief of Army Staff and Election Commission is to protect the Pakistani people. If Pakistan shows uncertainty and weakness during this election process, the fair election will drift toward tragedy.

It is also the responsibility of the caretaker government to ensure peaceful environment for the holding of elections.

How peaceful elections could be held amid continuous terrorist attacks
In a video message last month, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan warned people to stay away from political gatherings organized by ANP, PPP and MQM.

A leading Pakistani human rights watchdog has also expressed serious concerns over what it terms the systematic attempts to exclude candidates from elections and to sabotage people’s ability to elect candidates of their choice or to hold them to account.

The TTP’s first victim this election season was the ANP-backed candidate Adnan Wazir, whose election motorcade was targeted with a roadside bomb in northern Pakistan on March 30.

Then, on April 14, a local ANP leader was killed in Swat, and two supporters of another ANP candidate were killed in DI Khan on April 15. The TTP claimed responsibility for both of those attacks as well.

The ANP claims that the Taliban have been killed more than 700 of its workers and leaders, including two provincial legislators and one senior minister.

Pakistan’s third secular party, the MQM, draws support primarily from the country’s commercial capital, Karachi, and from urban Sindh. The MQM has also been forced to focus on corner meetings, door-to-door visits, media appearances, and social media outlets due to the perceived threats from the Taliban.

“Unlike the past, our election drive is all door-to-door visits, corner meetings, telephonic speeches, and media statements,” said deputy MQM convener Dr. Farooq Sattar. In their talks with this writer, both the ANP and MQM leaders said they will file formal complaints about the security threats with the Election

Syed Manzar Imam was assassinated in Karachi this January. The TTP claimed responsibility for the murder and issued a warning that they would carry out more such attacks against the MQM. On April 10, an MQM election candidate was killed in Hyderabad. In last five years the Taliban have been killed more than 100 of its workers and leaders.

Last year, PTI leader Khan led a massive march from Punjab through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to South Waziristan, the stronghold of the Hakimullah Mehsud-led TTP, to drum up support for PTI’s anti-drone campaign. His followers were left unharmed even as they headed into a region of the country that is largely controlled by the Taliban. This year, the PTI managed to hold three massive election gatherings in Lahore, Peshawar, and Swat in the month of March alone. Similarly, PML-N leader Sharif held a public gathering in Mardan on March 8 and Hazara on March 25, while the JUI-F demonstrated its popularity with a large-scale rally at the historical Minar-e-Pakistan monument in Lahore on March 31.

Khan, who is calling his party’s popularity among Pakistani youth a ‘tsunami,’ is a staunch opponent of U.S. drone strikes and Pakistan military operations in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). He stopped short of condemning the Taliban by name when the militant group targeted 15-year-old schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai in Swat last year.

Like Khan’s PTI, the JI, JUI-F, and PML-N also shy away from openly challenging the Taliban. Shahbaz Sharif, who until last month was the chief minister of Punjab, Pakistan’s largest province, appealed to the Taliban to spare the province by pointing out that his government was not involved in operations against them. As a result we have seen no terrorist attacks from Taliban in Punjab.

All so called right wing parties are unite under the umbrella of Taliban. Everyday terrorist attacks on civilians sabotaged fair election process.


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Ziaul Haq’s ghost still haunts the liberals and seculars, which means his legacy is winning. They see him as the vilest man ever born in Pakistan and responsible for the malaise in the society. What a big joke and travesty of truth. None can deny that unlike stiff-necked Pakistani Generals, and that too with all powers in his hand; he was humble, courteous and led a simple and austere life. He neither indulged in corruption nor encouraged others to do so.

He never missed his prayer and Tahajad. He forbade obscenity, vulgarity, immorality and tried hard to implement Islamic laws in the country to the best of his ability. ZA Bhutto wanted to turn Karachi into another Lebanon not knowing the fate awaiting Lebanon. The society that had started to drift towards secularism under ZA Bhutto was checkmated and put on Islamic path by Zia.

His strong belief in Allah and strong character gave him courage to stand up to the Soviet challenge. Any secular leader in his place would have panicked and either ignored the occupation of Afghanistan by Soviet forces or lent support to their aggression against a Muslim neighbor. We have a living example of Gen Musharraf who buckled under pressure and to this day Pakistan is suffering. The US, western world and Saudi Arabia promoted religious extremism in Pakistan by backing holy warriors to fight atheists.

In the aftermath of Afghan war, both Saudi Arabia and Iran fomented sectarian war in Pakistan. Non-resolution of Kashmir issue and outbreak of armed uprising in Indian occupied Kashmir gave fillip to religious extremism. So, how only Zia is responsible for militarizing Pak society?

Zia introduced clauses of Articles 62 and 63 in the 1973 constitution to prevent corrupt and immoral politicians from entering the legislature. Despite sustained propaganda campaign launched by seculars and PPP to project him as a bigoted Mullah and a hypocrite who misused Islam to prolong his stay in power, they have utterly failed to wish away his legacy. It has rather gained in strength and Islamic fervor is on the rise. The true worth of democracy has been exposed by the coalition government of liberal parties led by PPP.

While the people are demanding strict scrutiny of contesting candidates in accordance with Articles 62 and 63, the status quo lovers and liberals want the two Articles to be scrapped from the constitution. They see these Articles as a code of morality in their charter of national duties too embarrassing and exposing. They are cursing Raza Rabbani Parliamentary Committee authoring 18th Amendment for failing to do away with these upsetting Articles, which gives no room to tax dodgers, loan defaulters, fake degree holders, cheaters, plunderers and fraudsters.

The liberals also crib that Zia had put an end to the overt merrymaking of the drunkards, ignoring the fact that Bhutto in his bid to appease the Islamists had prohibited hard drinks. Officer messes in armed forces went dry under orders of Gen Tikka Khan. Bhutto declared Friday instead of Sunday as weekly holiday and also declared Ahmedis as non-Muslims. Bhutto made Zia COAS despite being seventh number in seniority.

Zia is blamed by secular writers including Ayaz Amir for setting in motion darkness of religious extremism. This is not true since this phenomenon started gaining strength after passage of Objectives Resolution in 1949 and constant bickering of a tiny group of liberals wanting the constitution of Pakistan to be made secular. Islamists presented Quaid-e-Azam as Islam loving while seculars projected him as secular and repeatedly quote his August 11, 1947 speech out of context. His dozens of speeches and statements he made before and after creation of Pakistan reflecting his inner desire for an Islamic welfare state are ignored. Cold war between Islamists and seculars led to anti-Ahmedia riots in 1953 spearheaded by Jamaat Islami under Maulana Maudoodi. Martial law had to be clamped in Punjab to restore order. Lt Gen Azam dealt with the Islamists ruthlessly.
Unresolved Kashmir dispute and unabated India’s antagonism together with steady widening of gap between rich and poor during Ayub Khan’s golden era, which gave birth to 22 richest families were other reasons for growth of religious extremism. Rise of Awami League under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in East Pakistan and PPP under Bhutto in West Pakistan, both espousing secularism but at loggerheads with each other in 1970-71 led to division of Pakistan.

Bane of secularism and socialism promoted by ZA Bhutto under the garb of Islamic socialism, his autocratic style of governance and rigging in 1977 elections gave rise to Nizam-e-Mustafa spearheaded by religious parties. The PNA movement of nine parties became so powerful that on occasions the troops refused to fire on the protestors chanting Allah O Akbar.

High pitched fervor of the Islamists joined by centrist parties built lava of hatred against Bhutto. They hated him so intensely that they refused to break the logjam even after Bhutto conceded to all their demands including fresh elections. They didn’t want re-election which was their initial demand but ouster of Bhutto since they knew that in open contest they would lose. They kept nudging Gen Zia to step in and save the country from getting secularized.

The political impasse impelled Gen Zia to step in to break the impasse and defuse the volatile situation. His intentions were to give a pause of three months and then hold elections. Had Bhutto confined to a Rest House in Murree not threatened visiting Zia that he would deal with the generals the way Hitler treated them, Zia would have remained his humble servant. Being a practicing Muslim, Zia chose to ride on the crest of Nizam-e-Mustafa and decided to reverse the trend of secularism and to revert to basics of Quran and Sunnah as prescribed in the 1973 constitution framed by Bhutto.

When Bhutto was implicated in Raza Kasuri murder case, the entire lot of politicians wanted him hanged and none showed any mercy when death sentence was pronounced by the Supreme Court. Sweets were distributed by some political parties when he was hanged to death on the fateful day of 4 July 1979. This tragic event alienated the Sindhis in particular and divided the society.

The Religious parties extended full support to Zia’s efforts to Islamize the society. However, due to difference of opinion among the religious Ulemas and Mashaikhs, particularly those belonging to Shia community, consensus on Islamic model of democracy and governance couldn’t be arrived at. Despite the tug of war among Islamic clerics and between Islamists and liberal groups, Zia managed to introduce wide ranging Islamic laws.

Once he declared his intentions to introduce SHARIAH in the country sometime in June 1988, he became a marked man. He along with many senior Army officers died in a mysterious C-130 air crash on August 17, 1988. 24 years have lapsed since his death; neither the cause of crash has been ascertained nor Zia’s legacy has got washed away. During this period, his chief antagonist PPP was in power thrice but his ghost couldn’t be buried. Even Gen Musharraf’s enlightened moderation which was a cover name of secularism, and expansion of media to project soft image of Pakistan through liberalism, couldn’t subside Islamic passions. Rather, ardor has increased in intensity. Ironically, Musharraf espousing secularism fell from grace of secularized lawyers and media and are these days advocating his trial under Article 6 of the c Constitution ion.

Seculars got perturbed when PML-N and Tehrik-e-Insaf made parleys with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) for seat adjustments. For them JI is intolerable not realizing that it is one of the oldest and most organized political party with roots in all provinces. It is to the credit of this party that none of its elected member has ever been implicated in a corruption or immorality case.

The seculars devoid of Islamic flame are advised to refresh their knowledge of history and stop demeaning Islam and spreading falsehood by maligning Zia for his uncommitted sins as a dictated ritual. For promotion of secularism they make Zia as the convenient scapegoat.

(The writer is a retired Brig, a defence analyst and columnist)

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I am a medical consultant from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the frontline province of the front in state. The state is getting all the perks for the last 32 years and the province is paying its price and bearing the brunt of the onslaught. We are bled that some one gets payment for our blood. Think of any atrocity against humanity and it has been committed against us. Our land is a huge dump of gunpowder, our area has been converted in to a farm land where the small chicks of terrorism are produced, fed, and when they grow they are used as the reason against us. It is hundred times more destructive and the collateral image is unthinkably higher than the air drone.

The Afghan pride has been torn in shreds. A country never occupied by foreign power is under the heals of heavy foreign boots on both sides of Durand line. Both are alien to our customs and traditions both have a contemptuous attitude to our people.

Pakistan is politically always on shaky ground because of we are, economically dependent on foreign aid without realizating that loan is never without a string. The political, military and economical dependence has stripped us of our national sovereignty and national honour. No one is insane, unlike like our leaders, to invest 60 billion dollars without getting some thing back. We have basically rented out our country in foreign press, Pakistan is nicknamed a rent-e-country and the same is the perception about the army and civilian leadership.

Now our media is drumming loud about free, fair and transparent elections. Our interim government and election commission is trying to mislead the world opinion. Pakistan is no different than other Muslim countries where a dictator rules for decades. Here a particular mind set from a particular region is ruling since the creation of the country. It is the mind set that counts. In socialist philosophy it is said that capitalist mind set is more dangerous than a capitalist. They are true beyond any shadow of doubt.

The transparent and fair election is always free of rigging and hidden hands manipulation. Most of the elections are rigged in third world country. Even in the recent past USA president Mr. Bush was appointed by judiciary though he had lost in popular votes. Idealism is a fantasy. But comparatively speaking we have a worst track record.

A line has been drawn by our election commission and establishment between democrats and conservative and the whole strategy is to keep the democrats out of political process. This time they have resorted to physical elimination.
No nationalist in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa can hold even a corner meeting, the recent two attacks on our central leadership were after corner meetings.
So for their have been nine suicidal attacks on nationalists in KPK and three on MQM in Karachi. Even in the interior Sindh, the strong hold o PPP, they cannot hold public rally’s. The strongest political force in Karachi, the MQM have been restricted to do door to door electioneering. ANP is target even in Karachi, out of the fear that they may clinch few more seats. Karachi is suffering at the hands gangs war while we nationalists in KPK have been left to the wolves to attack us. There is hardly a day gone without the attack of suicidal bombers. Eighty of the leadership, hundreds of workers and thousands of poor sympathisers have been eliminated.

The irony is that not a word of condemnation was said by the so called these civilian leaders of Pakistan who are claiming of lofty democratic culture. On T.V they have refused to call them terrorists. It will be worth mentioning at this stage that the heads of these sectarian parties and the Muslim leaguers were invited by Taliban.

They refused to talk to federal or provincial government, army, nationalist and democrats. They threatened that they will not spare any one of the three parties. Practically the candidates are all in sub jails in their houses.

The election campaign is in full swing in Punjab by Muslim leaguers, Imran khan, another stooge of establishment and sectarian parties. They can have their rally even in KPK without fear and threat. Neither they need government security nor they have lost a single individual. We never hope the same happens there. The same is the case with JI and JUI.

They are in position to provide security to our army COAS and president. As the controlling harness of the shadows of death is in their hands.
It looks they are working in collaboration. It is not some thing we should mumble upon, it is an open secret to the world. But it is more painful that the world is keeping mum. Neither the human rights commission, nor UNO or European Union uttered a word against crimes on humanity.

To call it fair election where pre pole rigging has started on the first day, when the interim took over, will be insult to humanity and human dignity.

To accept it as an election in Pakistan will be the new definition of democracy. Election are being held in Punjab and the residents of other three other provinces have been tied by non visible ropes and thrown to the wolves.

We are being forced to quit politics and raise our voice for human freedom. But we are determined not to deter.

We believe to live with freedom of expression and demand our rights if refused this path we better die. We prefer freedom with huger not vice versa.
The international community is morally bound to come to our rescue as the present situation is due to their wrong foreign policies and the two dictators Zia and Musharaf were their henchmen.

Since the political leadership has gone across the Atlantic, west has always resorted to force instead of diplomacy because of the lack of diplomatic skill of americans as compared to British.

It is of no point to talk to the civil leaders of Pakistan government.
The parties to talk to, are the sectarian parties, Muslim leaguers of all shades, and the intelligence institution of Pakistan because they are the stake holders. The inclusion of Iran will be an added advantage to bring peace to this unfortunate region and its residents. To beat around the bush will no more work. In the name of free and fair election it is a plan to eliminate us.

The world must realise that our priorities are different than Punjab. Yes basic human needs are of utmost importance but we have historical responsibility to bring peace to our area and safe guard the tender plant of provincial autonomy. If peace is restored the amenities can be provided. In Punjab they are taking election processions we are taking out funeral processions every day.

khurshidalam44@hotmail.com

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A Voice of America report says that violent incidents are on the rise as polling day nears. According to the report, the purpose of [this] ….. can either be to get the polls delayed or to sabotage the process. The Awami National Party has so far borne the brunt of most terror acts ……the party has constantly been getting threats from the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. Electioneering has yet to kick off in Karachi as no big meeting has been arranged by the ANP, MQM or PPP.

So far, several reasons have hampered parties from campaigning enthusiastically for the May 11 vote. These have included the initial uncertainty of the elections being held at all. Indecision over party candidates and valid security concerns have been other reasons, with some candidates and their supporters falling pry to acts of terrorism. All this has taken away from the festivity of the election season that has its own distinctiveness in this part of the world. Traditionally, after the Raj days, public meetings and processions were the most effective mode of political mobilization. This time, it is TV and social media on which the parties and candidates have largely relied to convey their viewpoints to potential voters, and this mode of campaigning has not contributed to electoral vitality.

Now we come to this point that the culture of guns cannot be beneficial to any society but unfortunately it has been made a custom in our country. Right from day one, a malicious campaign was launched against politicians and military dictators continued fulfilling their ulterior motive (to grab power). The masses have been treated as if they were the enemy on the war front. One of the four military dictators was instrumental in Pakistan’s dismemberment and the third dictator gifted the country terrorism and introduced the culture of heroin and Kalashinkovs while the fourth dictator brought in drone attacks and Taliban suicide bombers but is still desirous of taking part in the elections.

At stake are 849 general seats in national and provincial assemblies, contested by candidates. The number of registered voters is 86,189,802, including 37,597,387, women. The later figure, although less than half that for male voters indicates that the number of women participating in the political process has kept pace with the growing population. And it is refreshing to know that women from the conservative tribal areas will be contesting alongside other women, including a former bonded laborer from Sindh. Since all campaigning must come to an end 48 hours before the vote, the contestants have three weeks in which to maximize their efforts. This way, this will be the shortest campaign period in Pakistan’s history.

Owing to the adventurism of such ‘saviours,’ democracy did not get a chance to flourish in the country. Once considered the strategic assets of Pakistan, the Taliban have now become a curse. The Jihadi elements have now restored to blackmailing the government …. by attacking teams administering anti polio drops to children and killing political leaders and their supporters. But the silence of Supreme Court is beyond.

Now the Pakistani nation have this question that will the candidates conform to the strict criterion laid down by the ECP? Will violence not linked to the terrorist threat obstruct electioneering? Will rules against providing transport for voters on polling day be flouted? It will be interesting to see how these problems are tackled by the ECP and the law enforcement authorities. There are of course limits beyond which the ECP and the law enforces cannot be fully effective. Ultimately, it is the candidates and their supporters who have to demonstrate restraint and make it a violence free and transparent exercise.

So this is the responsibility of interim government, law enforcement agencies, and the political parties that they make sure the safety of public and women at the time of voting. They feel full protection at the time of voting.

http://www.thefrontierpost.com/category/40/

The two mainstream parties used to claim that they couldn’t deliver because they were not allowed to complete their five years tenure and were ousted prematurely during the democratic era from 1988 to 1999.

This crib was duly addressed when the last PPP led government completed its full tenure, but instead of delivering it bled the nation white. It has left behind such a huge mess that it will be near impossible for the next government to clean it up within its five-year tenure and show some positive change for the benefit of the people.

Biggest crooks of the country donned the legislature for five years. They are still not satiated and are keen to re-enter the pleasurable halls of power to recommence orgy of loot and plunder. They are pooh-poohing Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution saying that none in Pakistan measure up to its requirements. They resisted scrutiny arguing that it was below their dignity to furnish details of their families and belongings. Questions asked from the contestants by the Returning Officers (ROs) to ascertain their basic knowledge about Islam were ridiculed by the politicians and media. Instead of feeling embarrassed for showing total ignorance on basics, they felt insulted and made fun of the ROs asking such silly questions.

Clauses (d), (e) and (g) of Article 62 define pre-requisites that a contestant should be of good character; not have reputation for violating Islamic injunctions, has adequate knowledge of Islamic teachings, practices obligations of Islam, abstains from major sins and should not have worked against the integrity of Pakistan or opposed ideology of Pakistan. In short, he should be ‘Sadiq and ‘Ameen’ and a patriot. Print and electronic media which was till recent crying hoarse for strict implementation of these Articles made a switch and came to the rescue of the wrongdoers by vilifying the Articles and the scrutinizers. Each pre-requisite was disparaged in a manner as if knowledge of non-Muslims about fundamentals of Islam was being tested.

Demonizing Islam in one way or the other has remained a favorite hobby of secular media. They are demanding revisit of Articles 62 and 63 and scrapping them from the Constitution since in their view they are superfluous and irrelevant. On the other hand they have no objection to secular parliamentary system, which is unsuited to the psyche of our society and is out of sync with the aspirations of Islam loving people of Pakistan. They are not bothered about the loot and plunder by the fraudulent rulers who ruled the roost for 65 years as a result of rigged elections and faulty electoral system and are ready to welcome them again, but not those who preach Islam and are God fearing.
Change for the good is only possible if honest, clean and efficient legislators enter the legislature. ECP was mandated to carryout pre-poll screening test of all the contesting candidates to separate wheat from chaff and thus enable the people to vote freely to the contestants duly whitened by the EC. Effective screening would have helped the people to freely make their choice from among the whites and not from among the mixed bag of white and black or from all blacks.

However, claims made by so-called independent and powerful ECP that it will carry out ruthless screening proved elusive. ECP buckled under pressure and not only ROs were restrained from asking so-called embarrassing questions but it also removed the net it had spread to net big and small fish that had dirtied the pond. To the utter shock and disbelief of the people, almost all bad hats have cleared the screening test. It is feared that the same stock of self serving feudal lords, landlords and industrialists will take charge after May 11. It will be like change of faces and uniforms only. Being the chips of same block they will add to the mess rather than cleansing the Aegean Stables.
Ruling parties that have accumulated bagfuls of ill-gotten wealth through graft, mega scams, commissions, kickbacks in foreign deals and shady businesses are currently doling out millions on ads in media and raising catchy slogans to once again dupe the gullible people. They are shamelessly lying and promising moon when they well know that economy is in dire strait and country is neck deep buried in foreign and domestic debt. Their connection with the masses is only up to 11 May after which they will recede into their own world of pleasure.

As predicted, election campaign has become bloody and deadliest. Several political leaders, activists and election offices have been attacked by TTP. While ANP is the biggest sufferer with its 700 workers and leaders killed in terrorist acts, MQM, PPP and PML-N have also suffered some casualties recently. Even election convoy of JUI-F was hit on April 26 because of TTP’s differences with Maulana Fazlur Rahman. While leaders of liberal parties have ducked down to save themselves from terrorist attacks, Imran Khan, Sharif brothers and leaders of religious parties are holding big rallies since they had not been threatened by TTP. Irrespective of several attacks by Taliban, no party has buckled and exited from the electoral contest on 11 May and election temperature is rising with each passing day.

Seculars are suspecting that it is a deliberate attempt to marginalize liberal parties and to bring forward Islamist parties and re-enact black era of Gen Zia. They are making hue and cry that a conspiracy is underway to once again push the country to monstrous Zia era which nurtured religious xenophobia and bigotry.

Seculars are unhappy with Imran Khan for his softness towards Taliban and got more disturbed when he started courting JI for seat adjustment. They are also displeased with PML-N’s linkage with banned extremist groups and also hobnobbing with JI for seat adjustment. They are disturbed over ANP’s change of heart toward TTP and agreeing to hold peace talks. It looks as if this time the contest will be between secular parties and religious cum conservative political parties. Pendulum has swung in favor of the latter because of the poor conduct of liberal parties.

The voters while queuing up to vote on 11 May will not forget the pains they had to endure during the five-year black rule of PPP-MQM-ANP. They had endured up to 20 hours a day of power outages, suffered prolonged gas load shedding and waited in long queues to fill up their vehicles from CNG stations. They got jobless as a result of industries shutting down due to load shedding. To their utter horror and helplessness, they received inflated gas and electricity bills despite outages. They had seen daily bloodletting in Karachi where target killers were patronized by the three ruling parties. Politicized police backed the robbers and criminals and spent more time in protecting the ruling elite rather than the people. Situation in Balochistan had got from bad to worse because of connivance of rulers with criminals and their complete indifference.

People had seen parents killing their children or committing suicide because they were unable to feed them. Lawlessness reigned supreme throughout the country but the rulers remained wholly engrossed in looting national wealth and in merrymaking. They kept hearing about scams in which billions were embezzled. PIA, NLC, NICL, Railways, Steel Mills, CDA, RPP, Nepra, Hajj scams made headlines but nothing came of it because NAB protected the wrongdoers. Circular debt rose from $38 billion in 2008 to $70 billion in 2013; poverty level increased from 23% in 2008 to over 40% in 2013; GDP dropped from 7% to 3%.

Accused involved in memo case were allowed to flee and remain unpunished. People heard their leaders making noises that drones were counterproductive and must be stopped but to their dismay they later learnt that drones were being fired by CIA with the tacit blessing of government. It is now to be seen whether people would again get misled by the fakers and vote them to power, or reject them and empower clean and honest leaders.

(The writer is a retired Brig and a defence analyst and columnist)
asifharoonraja@gmail.com

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There is nothing to debate the centuries-old adage that puts humans as fallible: they are rational but are bound to err. So we take this ‘fact’ as given. However, it is equally true that Humans can overcome their imperfections through discussions and debates. So, the collective decisions are always regarded just. It is why we have faith in Parliament and the laws it makes or unmakes.

One may point out that a legislature dominated by a particular sectional interest may enact laws only to its own advantage but, as the spirit of democracy calls for, it can be done only temporarily: freedom of speech ultimately puts legislators on the right path.

That Pakistan could not enjoy democratic existence can be seen through the diligent efforts of the ‘authoritarian’ forces to make it as a ‘closed’ and ‘regimented’ society. Many a ‘no- go-areas’ were constructed and defended with religious conviction. The barricades and ‘fortresses’ of authoritarian mindset could not be broken, even when the so-called secular parties had the opportunity dominate the legislature.

One undeniable fact about ‘secular’ parties is that they are always ready to compromise with their rivals: it was done in 1973 while making the Constitution after the fall of Dhaka; it has been done recently when the 18th Constitutional Bill was passed.

The PPP, ANP and MQM may have many reasons to celebrate their success vis-à-vis securing provincial autonomy and restoring the Constitution according to its original form but they forget one thing important that impacts the lives of the common people: the concept of citizenship and the right of every individual to be treated equally without any prejudice.

One may ask now the so-called secular parties as to what use is the provincial autonomy when so heavily-built security structure can’t even guarantee them freedom of movement and, of course, the speech? Is Balochistan peaceful and prosperous after becoming master of its own destiny? Has Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa (the name of the province is just another example of the compromising spirit of the secular forces) brought more unity among various ethnic/linguistic groups of the society?

The fact of the matter is that political parties are themselves under siege: they are dominated by the sectional interests, inherently unfit for defending the interest of the ‘people’. Those who are determined to keep the status-quo intact know as to where to invest in the democratic age.

Some people have genuinely looked towards the armed forces, which since Pakistan’s birth have consumed the most of the country’s GDP and employed well-bodied workforce. Unfortunately, the ‘ideological’ brigade, the same that brought down our cricked team to the ground recently, got opportune time (formative phase of the country) to indoctrinate our Army as well: by the time Zulfiqar Bhutto (far before Zia martyred him) took over, it was ready to Islamize the society.

If political parties are the dens of ‘reactionary elements,’ then with whom the people should tie their fate? Actually, a democratic country can’t do away with political parties. Either the existing parties will have to purge the ‘wrong’ elements or will have to die down in the election process.

Can Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) deliver? Yes, it can if it is independent and autonomous, which the most of the Senators believe it is not. After the institution is out of the yoke of the executive, judiciary is there to lead it by nose. Will Elections 2013 be regarded as free and fair? It is anybody’s guess: so far the PPP, ANP and MQM leadership has said openly that there is a scheme to keep them out of the election process!

So, where Pakistan is going to end up? The quick answer is: anarchy. It is simply the price of freedom; this is the only way the racists, using religion and language as a shield, can secure their petty interests! If one wants to see any light on the end of the tunnel then he has to keep in mind what Heraclitus, a philosopher of Hellenic World: “There is nothing permanent except change”.


http://www.thefrontierpost.com/category/40/

Only a month after his long-announced ‘home-coming’ General Musharraf has become rather an embarrassment to the government and the army of Pakistan. He had insisted on coming back against the advice of many of his well-wishers among the army high command, the ISI, the Saudi government and others because he was under the illusion of Pakistan craving for him and needing him as a savior from all the ills that have befallen the country under the PPP government. Because it is unfortunate that every dictator thinks that he is perhaps the Messiah of the nation while infect he is the most hated person in the eyes of people. He did not believe that his star had fallen long ago when he had left the country. May be the people running his party in Pakistan who must have known about this situation did keep him in the dark deliberately.

Now his physical remand has also been granted to FIA investigation team in Benazir murder case, in which quite surprisingly all forensic evidence on the scene were washed away within hours of incident, though Gen. Musharraf denies his involvement but it is true that this case has not been so properly investigated that it deserved because of high profile casualty during his tenure as president and after that during PPP rule. On this very day Nawaz Sharif rally also came under fire in Rawalpindi where six people lost their lives, while Benazir perhaps had lunch with Afghan President Karazai in Islamabad, who had a personal contingent of Black water security. It was reported that the district administration it was reported that was informed by PPP Rawalpindi office bearers that they suspect presence of mysterious people on top of an under construction building but no heed to this complaint was paid by police. There is thus criminal negligence if nothing else to be tried.

Multiple cases have been brought before courts against Musharraf, who is though under arrest but for security reasons he is being kept in his Chak Shahzad farm house. All this has happened despite the fact that many precautions had been taken for his safety and political revival under external pressure. The support of Altaf Bhai had been secured, Chitral constituency which would have been a sure win for him was provided by one of his followers, and Nawaz Sharif was made to pledge not to say a bad word against him. But all these precautions came to nothing.

His popularity graph had already fallen, when he compromised Pakistan’s national interest to American interest by adopting US proxy war on terror that even US had to compromise with Benazir on her terms to invent infamous NRO that broke the backbone of the nation in last five years of PPP mis-governance, Musharraf is considered a facilitator in this great game, in Pakistan this was already visible when he was still in power, which later proved from the reception at Karachi airport that brought a limited number of people out to greet him on his return. Since then the streets of Karachi and the rest of the country have remained empty; he has lost the sympathies of the masses and thus street power so all efforts to build his image will prove futile again.

And that is regardless of the other changes that have taken place in the political arena of Pakistan. It seems most of this change has been triggered through the homecoming of another self styled leader of Muslim world, Dr. Tahirul Qadri, who descended in January in Lahore from his self-imposed exile in Canada with an unclear agenda that he termed as ‘changing of system’ to save the country.

Though he and his ‘long march’ did not achieve much and ended in a declaration with the same sitting government that he considered an ex-government on arrival in Islamabad, because he considered that government was toothless and difficult to implement the discussion about articles 62 and 63 that did never play any role in previous run-ups to elections seem to have been brought in through Dr. Qadri.

This change went unnoticed or was not taken seriously by General Musharraf and it cost him the candidacy in all four of his intended constituencies. Thus, he will not be able to contest the elections for which he had come initially. His party, anyway weak and ill prepared for an election campaign will quietly disperse and political life will go on without General Musharraf as it had during the last five years if any other factor is not put to work in derailing the elections to facilitate US & NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan under a well hatched conspiracy. What remains for him now given the fact that as one of the first steps he had been put on the exit control list is to face the multiple trials in which he has been implicated.

Given a just and evenhanded judiciary that would not have been a big problem because many of the implications are either twisted or difficult to prove. But in Pakistan the judiciary is for the first time so far functioning independently but is acting in a new style that has dire national and political implications.

The Chief Justice who was threatened and mishandled by Musharraf in 2007 is not going to forgive him- there are obviously limits to impartiality also- and his idea of justice seems to be rather ‘an eye for an eye’. Be it the Benazir murder case or the Bugti murder case there is much that could be said to clear General Musharraf. But it might not be said to keep him on the hooks.

The latest drama was his bail cancellation in the proclamation of emergency in November 2007 an unlawful act that should attract action under article 6 against him because he had imposed emergence as Army Chief and not as President of Pakistan. While the judiciary has covered up for his army coup and take-over in 1999 under the ‘doctrine of necessity’ they are now straining the law to get him on that even involving terrorism. And given the way the case is conducted by the court inspite of these glaring illegalities impression is being created that all is not just but more about revenge than about justice.

But this situation is also showing the character of the retired general. Instead of facing the court he ran away when his bail was cancelled from the court, which damaged his image and that of the army immensely. It brings also to mind his conduct in Kargil episode, where he sacrificed the lives of hundreds of soldiers, while himself sitting safely in the GHQ, just to end up as an embarrassment again.

All this drama has left no doubt that Gen. Musharraf is a spent force and is becoming an embarrassment for the army in the first place but you never know the drafters of NRO might trust him again for their own requirement under political expediency.

To avoid that eventuality to happen, it is high time that someone will have to get him around the ECL and deport him back to Dubai. God bless Pakistan.

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The election campaigns are in full swing and the candidates of all political parties are criticizing each other and often resort to rhetoric that could be construed as slander. PTI chief Imran’s speech in Bahawalpur was indeed hard hitting, targeting PML-N Chief thus it invited the wrath of the Election Commission of Pakistan. On Saturday the ECP took notice of Imran Khan's "personal attack" on the PML-N chief Nawaz. Fine! The Election Commission should keep the election atmosphere neat and clean, devoid of personal vendetta. What to talk of proactive approach on fatal terrorist attacks on the rallies and political leaders, even a reactive approach is not witnessed on the issue. During last four days, terrorist attacks have left 28 people dead and many others injured, and election campaigns have been damaged altogether particularly in KPK, Karachi and Quetta. Earlier, it was perceived that the TTP is targeting three political parties—the PPP, ANP and MQM, having earned the Taliban’s wrath by opposing the insurgency and extremism during their days in power. But then the TTP detonated bombs at the campaign offices of two independent candidates aspiring for the National Assembly seats from the lawless tribal areas. Fearing none, the TTP says ‘we are against all politicians and candidates who are going to become part of any secular, democratic government meaning thereby the TTP has widened canvas of their fight against the ongoing process and the system. Though on-the-hit-list political parties have made adjustments in their election strategies yet it is giving rise to suspicions about health of the elections particularly when the main political parties cannot properly participate in the elections process. Putting up brave face, the leaders of the political parties under Taliban attack are observing ominous silence though some of them believe the violence amounts to election rigging but they are yet to come up with their future course of action. Irony is that the Election Commission is also tightlipped about a much-need comprehensive security plan to counter the TTP threats to the system. Every now and then causal statements keep pouring out from the federal capital.

The latest is that Pakistan had planned to seal the border with Afghanistan and restrict the movement of Afghan refugees on the Election Day. The Interior Ministry and the Election Commission say that the measure is aimed at preventing terrorist attacks during the polling. The latest reported plan does not clarify how it would seal the long porous Afghan Border. Practically it is impossible to seize the border crossings, and even if Pakistan does manage to do it somehow or the other how could it restrict the movement of thousands of the TTP men spread out across the country. Similar measures have neither born fruit in the past nor is it going to work any wonders in future. The situation calls for a strict security for the protection of candidates and voters alike in the wake of a devastating onslaught being carried out in Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, failing which it will erode the credibility of ‘free and fair’ elections as selective terrorism against some political parties is ultimately paving for the others thus the un-even playing field is itself a sort of pre-poll rigging. Secondly, fearing for life, if ‘liberal’ political parties and their voters stayed indoors or decided to boycott the election, the entire exercise of the elections will be rendered futile.

The PML-N, PTI, JI or JUI-F, in any case, cannot be tagged as the right-wing forces. Even the TTP has not offered any justification for sparing these political parties, yet the general feeling is growing fast that the secular forces are being sidelined or have been thrown out of the political arena. The perception is not totally misplaced either. The worst political scenario will emerge soon after the polling if all big three political parties, as is expected, failed to perform or thereafter refused to accept the election results. It is a bad dream in sight. And to avert it, all political parties, including all those being spared by the TPP, must condemn violence. Personal attacks one can survive but not bombings, thus the Election Commission must not waste its time in matter of secondary importance rather it should hammer out comprehensive security arrangements with the help of the armed forces and the Interior Ministry to create an environment wherein the participation of all the political parties could be ensured. Pakistan needs nothing but a broad-based government to steer the country out of the current political mess.

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