Daily Times

Generally in parliamentary democracies, the selection or election to the upper house is a pretty drab affair, typically because most of the power lies with the lower house. But not in Pakistan! Here senate elections are an occasion of intrigue and excitement! The recently concluded occurrence being not any bit different especially when it came to policy options and especially when related to that oft mentioned phrase, even in the vernacular media – national security!

To relate this to the proper context, previous op-eds have recommended the national security policy for Pakistan thusly – principled and peaceful survival and unswerving social and economic growth through mutual co-existence, harmonious internally and externally. The astute reader may ask, what is the significance of Pakistan’s national security policy in terms of senate elections? The relevance lies in one of the four stated objectives of this policy, that is to promote diversity, liberty, equality, and a culture of tolerance. In relation to senate elections – diversity allows different backgrounds and genders to be part of the electoral calculus, liberty affords every parliamentarian to make up his or her own mind, equality ensures that all votes are treated fairly and allowed the same width of importance as others, tolerance – the most important of all traits – permits difference of opinion within political parties and throughout the general voting period. That, this doesn’t happen now is a forgone conclusion. That, why changes are not implemented to ensure that this happens, not quite so. Consider.

Prime Minister Imran Khan is correct in one aspect – votes are always up for grabs (read: sale) for senate elections. This is generally because it is an indirect election and power to elect senators lies with a handful of national and provincial assembly members. Since the 1980s, the reason this sham of a process hasn’t changed is because all political parties have enjoyed the fruits of this labour at one point or another thus what is good for the goose has also been good for the gander!

No great leader can survive and become an agent of change for the people of the country if he or she doesn’t master the art of ‘wheeling and dealing’. That is the unfortunate truth of any democracy – parliamentary or otherwise

Before the general elections of 2018, Sadiq Sanjrani – the current senate chairman – was chosen, along with a handful of senators, against the odds and in contrast to the voting majority of the government! Then, it was the government crying foul and the opposition parties which were praising the result as the strength of democracy. Then, the government wanted to bring transparency but the opposition wanted a secret ballot to maintain the sanctity of the vote and allow every parliamentarian to vote as per his or her conscience. Fast forward three years and today, Yousuf Raza Gilani has defeated the government nominee Hafeez Sheikh in a tight contest in the upper house – against the run of play! Just like then, even now the government is crying foul and the opposition parties are praising the result as the strength of democracy. Just like then, and in-fact even before the senate elections, the government wanted to bring transparency but the opposition wanted a secret ballot to maintain the sanctity of the vote and allow every parliamentarian to vote as per his or her conscience. Since the latest elections of the upper house, the opposition has sent an open invitation to the government to discuss and make the process transparent via an open ballot. But the government is hesitant as it perhaps sees the secret ballot as a way of getting its nominee re-appointed as chairman! Even though, early indications are that Yousuf Raza Gilani will win the nomination for the chairmanship because now the collective opposition has the numbers – another reason for them to ask for an open ballot! Nevertheless, strangers things have happened in the land of the pure.

In all this, the political acumen (insert choice adjective here) of Asif Ali Zardari has been praised a lot. Love him or hate him, one can’t get away from the fact that when it comes to political manoeuvring he has outsmarted the best of them. Imran Khan may want to learn a few things on politicking from him. No great leader can survive and become an agent of change for the people of the country if he or she doesn’t master the art of ‘wheeling and dealing’. That is the unfortunate truth of any democracy – parliamentary or otherwise. Note that this brand of political scheming doesn’t always necessarily mean money! Though, this is mostly the case in Pakistan but keeping coalitions strong requires other acts of social and political wisdom as well. Therefore, even when it comes to electoral manipulation, what is good for Asif Zardari must also be good for Imran Khan or at-least needs to be! And perhaps in better form! The United Kingdom parliamentary system – which Imran Khan loves to quote – is also no stranger to the art of politicking, so much so that it has even been called Machiavellian at times! That doesn’t mean that it is inept or inherently wicked but only that it is a means to an end. That end being serving the national interests of the United Kingdom! So used to it is the Conservative party that it is recognised as the best practitioner of this art and are known to ‘hide behind the cloak and strike with the dagger’! Removal of Margaret Thatcher from office anyone?!

For Pakistan’s sake, there needs to be one political party that takes the moral high ground and changes the unwieldy senate voting process even when the incumbent process works to its advantage. One political leader needs to be the ‘bigger person’ and be willing to change this electoral approach when the same goes to his or her favour! Only then will the adage what is good for the goose is good for the gander be proven wrong! Till then, it will be more of the same!

The writer is Director Programmes for an international ICT organization based in the UK and writes on corporate strategy, socio-economic and geopolitical issues