Daily Times

Sir: Pakistan has been through several dictatorships in the past, and each ruler made sure to deprive the people of a certain number of their basic rights. While the state of the country under these despots is a matter of debate, each dictatorial regime managed to instil in the public a desire for greater autonomy and a longing to have a greater say in the future progress of the country. But, such aspirations were impossible under such authoritarianism and it wasn’t until we enjoyed our first experience of true democracy, back in 1970, that we as a people realided that this was the only form of governance which allowed the common man to have a voice.

Even though those particular elections ended in tragedy, again due to the manoeuvrings of a dictator, it gave the people enough belief in the democratic system for us to revert to it every time we get rid of another tyrant.

The 2018 elections are now upon us, and this is the longest running streak of democratic elections the country has witnessed in its entire history. Many people have fought long and hard to ensure that the basic right of voting for a political party or candidate of your own choosing is enjoyed by every citizen in the land, and this is an opportunity that nobody in the country should pass up.

Even though the options presented to us might not be great, and you might feel that none of the candidates in contention deserve your vote, do not let your vote go to waste. If not for yourself, then at least for the progress of democracy in Pakistan.

NAYLE HASSAN

Lahore

Published in Daily Times, July 25^th 2018.