Daily Times

I have had the honour and privilege of voting in all national elections since 1977. While I was studying in the US, my father made sure that my name was included in the voters list. He then collected the polling station details, instructing me to plan my trip accordingly. As we lived in Shadman Colony, the Lahore College for Women was usually our polling centre. As I was under age during the 1970 elections, I did not vote then, but my family voted at Lucie Garrison High School on Warris Road. As Pakistan was envisioned as a constitutional democracy by the founding fathers, this was an exercise our household took very seriously.

After the 1977 elections people came out onto the streets as the results did not match voter expectations. In the 2018 electoral exercise, the results were as predicted by various surveys. While there has been a technological failure, this alone does not prove electoral manipulation. Most rigged elections result in absolute majority, as was seen in 1977, 1997 and 2013. In 1977, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB) the architect of the 1973 Constitution desired control of the Parliament to amend the original document.

Mian Nawaz Sharif (MNS) desired the same. In 1997, he pulled the stunt to become Amir-ul-Momineen (Khalifa), fortunately the move was blocked by the Senate. Again, the 2013 legislature passed bills to protect convicted individuals under the slogan of ‘Vote ki Izzat’. Manipulated ballots insult the voter as has been the case in the last forty years (1977 to 2017). I tend to agree with Mian Shahbaz Sharif (MSS) that the recent electoral contest has taken us back by three decades as the era of loot and plunder spearheaded by sponsored and corrupt politicians like the Sharif brothers is coming to an end. Even the myth of electables has been shattered as they bit the dust in 2018.

The role of PPP in the combined opposition is indeed interesting. Despite poor performance, their vote bank has improved. With 43 National Assembly seats, the party was able to defy all the voices calling the PPP a dying party. That is why it was unwilling to boycott parliament. PML-N is on its way out. It is an unnatural political entity, conceived and launched by the third dictator to attempt to neutralise the PPP

Despite having my electoral mandate stolen ten times, I went to vote for the eleventh. There was a last minute attempt by established political rogues to create hurdles.

Living in DHA, I was required to vote in Government High School located at Chung Kurd, a low end neighbourhood on the waste water drain that overflows with rain. The centre was very peaceful, the infamous Punjab Police was confined to the outer gate. There was one uniformed soldier who ensured peace, the process was handled by staff from various government departments that did not include departments loyal to the PML-N like revenue and education. Finally the traditional roguery (Badmashi) by two major political forces (PML-N, PPP) was contained. This was the first electoral contest where there was no display of weapons or aerial firing after the announcement of results.

Management of Technology (MOT) continues to be our biggest shortcoming. In 2013, the Magnetic Ink was defective, in 2018 the electoral process was smooth but the Results Transmission System did not work as planned. Now it is between ECP and NADRA to investigate why the system failed, but it should have minimum impact on the outcome of the electoral exercise. Unlike PML-N in 2013, the PTI is willing to open all constituencies where there is doubt. Kaptaan only demanded opening of four areas, which was denied and delayed through stays, resulting in the 2014 Dharna. The opposition is now protesting to save the old system of corruption and exploitation. Kaptaan is right, morally this is the weakest opposition ever, now it is upto him to deny executive authority to the rogue elements within his own party by leaving them behind in the parliament to complete the numbers.

The role of PPP in the combined opposition is indeed interesting. Despite poor performance, their vote bank has improved. With 43 National Assembly (NA) seats, the party was able to defy all the voices calling the PPP a dying party. That is why it was unwilling to boycott parliament. PML-N is on its way out. It is an unnatural political entity, conceived and launched by the third dictator to neutralise the PPP. Despite all the establishment support and manipulation it had in the early 1990’s, PML-N was unable to knock out PPP. Bhutto’s party has been damaged more from within by the likes of Asif Zardari. Bilawal is now trying to revive his grandfather’s politics.

In early 1977, Bhutto the elected, anti-establishment Prime Minister (PM) was cornered into holding early elections. The day the assemblies were dissolved, a nine party alliance called PNA (Pakistan National Alliance) emerged. ZAB was a clear favourite to win the elections but the total control of the Parliament was not acceptable to the voters or the restored establishment. During elections, ZAB was incumbent, in power. The Chief Election Commissioner was appointed by him. He had complete executive authority during the electoral process together with the use of state apparatus.

By contrast all appointments in 2018 were made by the party in power and the opposition (PML-N, PPP). Both the ECP and the judiciary are now acting independently as mandated by the constitution. Political role of the establishment is on the decline, but it should be remember how much this country has suffered and continues to suffer because of it. Fearing PPP victory, General Zia came up with the doctrine of ‘Positive Results’ which seriously eroded the ballot’s supremacy.

PML-N is a product of this botched operation. This era is now coming to an end and there are no soft corners to preserve it. Zia’s dark ages (1977-2017) have seriously damaged the country and its institutions. As a political entity PPP was able to survive. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was formed in 1996 to challenge the status-quo. It has taken Kaptaan over two decades to enter the corridors of power. Both PPP and PTI are genuine political outfits, which were not launched by the establishment. For democracy’s sake, there should a negotiated way forward. This is the only way to end our political dark ages forever.

The writer is Ex-Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation. He can be contacted at fmaliks@hotmail.com

Published in Daily Times, August 13^th 2018.