Daily Times

The elections 2013 are almost over and thanks to the efforts of the caretaker set up, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), army and other law-enforcing agencies, they have happened without any major disruptive activity by terrorist outfits. Another very reassuring aspect of these elections, as revealed by the Chief Election Commissioner, is the nearly 60 percent turnout of voters despite the scary atmosphere created by the threats of the enemies of democracy. Although some instances of mismanagement, irregularities and lack of coordination among different agencies were witnessed as usual, yet the overall conduct of the elections in regards to their credibility has been beyond any reproach. For this the election commission, the government and all other agencies who assisted the ECP deserve unqualified accolades for this wonderful and historic effort.

The people through their enhanced participation in the elections have indeed sent a very strong message to the forces inimical to democratic norms and terrorists that they are determined to strengthen democracy in the country and would not be cowed down by their sinister designs and acts of violence. That augurs well for the future of this country in regards to tackling the formidable challenges confronting the country, through sustained democracy and accountability of the rulers through the power of their vote. The media, intelligentsia, government and ECP have made a sterling contribution to the writing of a new democratic history in the country by motivating the people to come out and cast their votes.

The people being the final arbiters have spoken and from the results of the elections, which are quite contrary to the predictions of the political pundits who perceived the outcome of elections in the form of a hung parliament, it is quite discernible that the greater emphasis of the voters was on the performance of the outgoing governments rather than other considerations. Many old guards and stalwarts who were considered invincible have fallen and the parties who formed coalition government in the centre have had to bear the brunt of their accountability, while a new political force in the form of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has also emerged on the political horizon of the country, which is a very positive development. The emerging scenario suggests that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will be forming the government in the centre and Punjab without depending on the support of other political entities. Sindh will remain the stronghold of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa might see the PTI heading a coalition government, and Balochistan, as usual, will also have a broader coalition.

Now that the exercise of the elections is over, it is time to consolidate the gains of democracy by all the stakeholders by showing respect to the mandate of the people. The party forming the government in the center will have to exhibit an unfaltering resolve to accommodate other political entities in the decision making process on issues of vital national interest, especially fighting the scourge of terrorism and reviving the sagging economy by evolving long-term national strategies in these areas. The gravity and enormity of the threats to the country also dictate the adoption of a reconciliatory spirit by all the parties who have achieved public franchise, more so by the party forming government in the centre. Any attempt by the PML-N to embark on a solo flight, inebriated by its electoral success, might prove harmful to the national interests because the ground realities are such that it will not be in a position to steer the ship out of the troubled waters without the cooperation of other parties represented in the federal and provincial legislatures. With the PPP having majority in the senate and also heading a government in Sindh, the PTI spearheading a coalition in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan also not under its stewardship, the PML-N will find it difficult to do any worthwhile legislation or carrying out amendments in the constitution to remove constitutional bottlenecks in the way of good governance or changing the political system that has failed to deliver during the last six decades. Merely holding elections and choosing public representatives is not an end itself. It is a means to an end, which is promoting the wellbeing of the people, improving their economic situation through a system of good governance and removing threats to the integrity and security of the country. In the present scenario internal unity is of paramount importance to mount a befitting challenge to the internal and external threats and keeping the country treading the path envisioned by its founding father.

It is, however, encouraging to note that the PML-N president, Mian Nawaz Sharif, in his victory speech at his Model Town residence expressed his desire to work collectively with all the political parties and even invited them for parleys on the national issues, besides forgetting the bitterness generated during the election campaign. One hopes that he keeps his words and the people do not have to see repeat of the crass politics of the 1990s.

Mr Sharif during the election campaign and through his statements on different occasions has spoken his mind on the war on terror, and ostensibly considers it not our war, contrary to the views held by the military establishment as is evident from the speech General Pervez Kayani delivered a few days before the elections in which he categorically said that it was our war and those who thought otherwise were, in fact, trying to belittle the sacrifices made by the security forces in fighting this menace. Mr Sharif and army need to be on the same page on this issue. Another irritant in relations between him and the khaki top brass could be an excessively soft attitude of the former towards India, the formation of a commission on Kargil and sharing investigations of the Mumbai incident with the archrival. How he manages to narrow down the differences in perceptions on these matters will be a test of his political sagacity and pragmatism. Governing a country is not a bed of roses, but a very daunting task especially in a country like Pakistan entrapped in a web of debilitating challenges. While congratulating Mr Sharif on his good showing in the elections, I also wish him good luck in proving himself equal to the task that he has been entrusted with by the people.

The writer is a retired diplomat, a freelance columnist and a member of the visiting faculty of the Riphah Institute of Media Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad. He can be reached at ashpak10@gmail.com