General elections are supposed to be a day of reckoning. Instilling in political players of the great game feelings of both anticipation and apprehension. Not so in modern democratic Pakistan. Where all parties appear to be adopting a rather laissez-faire approach to the proceedings. For with just one month until the citizenry goes ballot-boxing — none of the major parties have published their respective manifestos. Yes, really. All of which is bad news. And raises important questions as to just how free and fair anyone can expect these elections to be. After all, central to the democratic process is an informed citizenry; which is the first step towards empowerment. Then there is not the un-small matter of holding political parties to their mandated promises. Ideally, the latter ought to include timeframes, enforcement mechanisms and budgetary costs. Not to mention how revenues will be generated to pay for specific projects and services. The absence of party manifestos is of particular concern to Pakistan’s vast working-class, which comprises the majority of those eligible to vote. Thus this class has a legitimate vested interest in renegotiating the terms and conditions of their labour with those who own the means of production. Yet as things currently stand they remain in the dark. On the back burner. That this has not been addressed by any of the three major parties over the last five years speaks volumes of the sheer hubris of those who effectively lord it over the poor and illiterate. Moreover, it suggests the maintenance of the status quo that is, at best, based on feudal benevolence rather than the securing of fundamental rights; such as a basic minimum wage for unskilled labour that falls in line with a living wage. In addition, if Pakistan is truly interested in embracing the 21st century, it has to get serious about criminalising indentured labour while formally recognising women domestic workers as part of the mainstream labour force. Just as it must also introduce enforceable health and safety standards for factory workers as well as those engaged in repetitive task-led labour. All the top leadership of the Big Three are educated, landed and rich. Or put another way, they are out of touch with the overwhelming majority of Pakistanis. Which is all the more reason that the last tenure should have seen the daily wage earners or the women of the rural poor or socio-economically disadvantaged minorities driving important debates on class consciousness and feminism. Instead, this country’s most vulnerable have been left out in the cold. While mainstream parties are more interested in poaching electables from across the great divide. Sadly, it seems that Pakistan’s champions of democracy have still to learn the basics. Namely, that it is their job to serve the people. And that democracy which is not representative is anything but. We therefore look to the incoming set-up to take due note of this gross oversight and do the needful over the next five years. * Published in Daily Times, June 23rd 2018.