Welcome,
Madam Democracy
By Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
The previous LG elections like
the present one were supposed to be party-less.
Not many political parties had taken them seriously
so much so that some had even boycotted them.
However, having realised the worth of the real
power base at the grassroots level, a keen and
intense political activity was generated by the
present LG elections.
Some had heaved a big sigh of relief in the country
and expected these elections to be an important
step forward in laying the healthy foundations
of the democratic institutions in the country.
But, alas has it been so? Firstly, the party-less
elections have soon transformed into a full fray
for all political parties who openly started fielding
and supporting their candidates – some even
after the unabashed and most unexpected seat adjustments
between the diametrically opposed political parties
throwing their political ideologies to the winds.
To start with it was all being done discreetly
under the garb of forming various like- minded
‘groups’ with names resonating with
the identity of a particular political party.
But soon all the Chaudhris, the ARD, the MMA,
the BB, the NS and Altaf Bhai from abroad and
even General Musharraf started politicking openly
for the nominees of the parties of their choice.
Selected candidates were given the tickets, others
made to quit. Those not obliging were subjected
to embarrassingly legal manoeuvring. Many a Qureshi
of Mian Chunno and Piracha of Sargodha was wooed,
cajoled and pressurised to change long-standing
political affiliations. The District, Tehsil and
Union Councillors from far flung areas are taken
on tour of Murree – once again reviving
memories of notorious Chhanga Manga and Swat.
Surprisingly, all this is being done with the
knowledge of the Election Commission for whose
helplessness one feels genuinely sorry. One wonders
what is happening around and why? To democratically
elect the representatives to serve the masses?
Will such charlatans really serve the masses?
Could someone enlighten this ignorant and the
hater of such a despicable democracy, please?
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