The judicial commission set up on the demand of PTI chairman Imran Khan has finally concluded its inquiry and presented its comprehensive findings that are likely to end political turmoil in the country, as it is expected to appease all the political stakeholders who were questioning the legitimacy and transparency of the 2013 general elections. The commission concluded that the elections were mostly fair, with no substantial evidence of organised rigging. At the same time, it rejected all the main allegations of the PTI. Yet, the commission pointed out many flaws and irregularities of the election process, which should pave the way for improvement in the future to make the system relatively foolproof. The findings of this commission are of historic importance, as we have a history of forming judicial commissions that could not present their report on time and with the same clarity as this one. Furthermore, the findings of many commissions were not made public, raising many controversies over time.
It has become an established practice in Pakistan that whoever loses the elections refuses to accept the result, so the allegations are not usually taken seriously by those in power. It was the first time that allegations of election rigging were actually probed by a neutral body that enjoyed the trust of the whole nation. Many experts are regarding the commission’s report as a huge victory for the sitting government and a serious setback to the PTI, which was actually hoping to get results in its favour but the findings did not allow the party to save face, as all its demands were rejected. The prime minister pledged to move forward on what he calls the road to progress, by indirectly criticising the politics of protest. He did not make any harsh comments about the PTI, which is appreciable. Yet, many hawks of the PML-N are demanding an apology from Imran Khan, which can only raise the current political temperature and is detrimental to the national interest. On the other hand, the PTI chief has also announced that he accepts the verdict of the judicial commission, which is heartening to note. However, many of his leaders are still sticking to their earlier stance of organised rigging, which seems inappropriate and is against the spirit of fair play.
There are no two opinions of the captain’s honesty, integrity and sincerity for the cause of free and fair election as he has earned that respect after many years of commendable social service. However, the dimension of politics is a totally different scenario and landscape, which is difficult to master in countries like Pakistan, where opportunism and backdoor diplomacy are part and parcel of politics. It is also true that PTI thought that 2013 was the most ideal time for it to harness support that would translate into a solid victory, after years of political struggle. Since this could not happen, for whatever reason, it has added to the frustration of the PTI. However, the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) became the sole consolation, to give them room to deliver and show what they were capable of. Although the expectations of PTI could not materialise in these general elections, a fair analysis reveals that the party was not worse off, as it got the governance of one province where it found a like-minded partner. Besides, it occupies the opposition leadership in the largest province of Punjab, where it has definitely outnumbered the PPP — the oldest political party. Imran Khan also used his position to mount pressure on the treasury benches. All these things definitely added to the stature of the PTI.
Ideally, getting the election reforms done, with visible delivery of performance by the KP government could have really uplifted the party’s image and would have opened the doors for it in the coming days. Some patience was needed for that but, unfortunately, that was not the case, as we witnessed in the months of political confrontation and instability. It is hoped that the PTI will revisit its political strategy in the coming months to come out of the current awkward situation. The country, at this critical juncture, cannot afford the politics of confrontation as this will divide the nation, which is definitely contrary to the national interest. We are in the middle of a crucial war against terror, which is actually a struggle for our survival. Religious fundamentalism, rampant corruption and, above all, the annual floods are battering our progress and holding us back. The nation needs to be served, which is actually the true essence of democracy and not power struggles. We have seen enough destruction and we desperately need a revival now.
It is important for all political stakeholders to come together to formulate election reforms, which are badly needed to ensure free and fair elections in the future and to make the election commission more powerful and autonomous through different amendments and regulations. The next local bodies elections in Sindh and Punjab will be an uphill challenge. There is an increased need to avoid the blame game that has been initiated by many opponents of the PTI and to move forward by avoiding any polarisation. Redressing public grievances should be the main priority of all the political stakeholders, which has unfortunately not been the case. Those who find their success in the failure of others cannot achieve their desired goals. In contrast, those who learn from their mistakes and move forward by pledging not to repeat them are the true winners at the end. The report of the judicial commission is not anyone’s victory or defeat; it is the state of Pakistan that has emerged victorious from this long political turmoil.
The writer is a freelance columnist