Daily Times

Unlike past elections, this year’s elections for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly made headline news. These were the first ones being held under a democratic dispensation in which the mainstream parties, including those whose leaders had been in exile during Musharraf’s rule, have participated fervently. Both Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Nawaz Sharif visited AJK to campaign for their respective parties. Despite the trappings of so-called independent existence, the reality is that AJK has been run through the ministry of Kashmir affairs in Islamabad since independence. Therefore, let alone independent, it is not even autonomous. The reason for the political parties’ enthusiastic participation might be that, after the passage of the 18th Amendment, which has empowered the provinces in relation to the Centre, AJK might also assert itself at some point against the powerful Centre. It is quite possible that not only the people of AJK, but also our mainstream political parties, have been inspired by the 18th Amendment, and the mood and political climate is changing. It might not be possible to manipulate the political process in AJK in future as easily as has been the case in the past. The second reason for this interest is the next general elections. These polls were treated as a dress rehearsal where each party tested its respective strength and organisational ability on the ground. Out of 37, the PPP is leading with 19 seats. The runner up is PML-N with seven seats.

Unfortunately, this electoral exercise has not been as smooth as one might have expected from a democratic dispensation that was restored after nine years of dictatorial rule. The state machinery was used for rigging and to manipulate the results. Violence claimed three lives and scores of political agents/workers were injured in various parts of the country. Due to this, polling was suspended for one seat in Lahore, while it has been postponed for four seats in Karachi. The PPP came out strongly against the PML-N, accusing it of rigging, while MQM has taken umbrage, alleging that the PPP has indulged in pre-poll rigging. MQM has pulled out of the coalition government in protest.

Not only is this the last nail in the coffin of whatever was left of the Charter of Democracy, it is also an indication how skin deep were all those pronouncements of never resorting to undemocratic tactics and sticking to democratic means by all the parties. They have all failed the first test. It is a very sad situation and creating despondency among the people that we have still not learnt to exercise our democratic rights in a civilised way.

If this election is any indication to go by, the next general elections will witness even more widespread use of administrative machinery and violence for all kinds of rigging before, during and after the election. When the political forces resort to underhand means of manipulation, they pave the way for undemocratic forces to walk in through the back doors. The more the credibility of the politicians and political parties goes down, the easier it is for undemocratic forces to run riot. Each time, military coups succeeded because the climate of opinion had turned against the politicians because of their shenanigans. A lot of questions have been raised about the democracy that was restored in 2008. Sadly, the politicians have proven true to their form and played according to a very old and tired script in this election. If democracy is rolled back, we will return to an authoritarian regime. Can we afford it?*