PML-Q Is out? Think again
By Dr. Muzaffar Naqvi
Lahore, Pakistan
Opposition parties have shown wonders as they have grabbed almost 210 seats (113 seats of PPPP+ 84 seats of PML-N + 14 seats of ANP) in a house of 342 members. Polling ended at 5:00 PM on 18th of February and early results (that of different polling stations) started coming around 6:30 PM.
Each and every TV channel was busy in making loud claims that ruling party has been washed away from the political scene of the country. However, to much of the chagrin of different anti-Musharraf analysts, these early claims have proved to be too early.
In spite of all of its ‘misdeeds’ in the past, PML-Q has taken an overall 55 seats in National Assembly and is the only party in the country that has won seats from all the provinces.
The credit goes to PML-Q that it has performed reasonably well in face of all the odds (i.e., wheat crisis, load shedding-crisis, Lal Masjid tragedy, etc.) that came its way in previous few months.
There was also a hasty demand from different corners that President Pervez Musharraf should resign on a ‘shameful defeat’ of its allies.
It was in fact a demand without any sufficient logical grounds. PML-Q alone has grabbed 40% of total votes. If the ratio of votes taken by MQM is added to it, this figure can soar higher, up to 47-49%.
If the measure to judge the popularity or otherwise of Pervez Musharraf is the number of votes cast in favor of his allies or otherwise, then every one should wholeheartedly accept this bare fact that almost 50% of the country’s population has voted in President Pervez Musharraf’s favor.
Facts are facts and no one can deny them.
The world has also acknowledged the fact that elections were held in a free, fair and transparent manner. That means that all the allegations regarding rigging were mere fallacy on the part of the opposition parties. President Musharraf has proved to be a ‘man of his word’. It is now the responsibility of all the political parties to ‘sit and think together’ how they can make this country move ahead.
Pakistan cannot afford a ‘politics of conflict’ or ‘politics of personal grudges’. Path of progress is clear to all; the problem lies in the manner how we prepare ourselves walk on it.
Next few days will decide who is going to form the federal government. PPPP & PML-N both are in a position to run the house. Our prayers are for both of them. May Almighty Allah bless them with devotion and dedication to serve the country.
Free media is already there to ‘serve’ as soon as they sit on the saddles. May Almighty Allah also bless them with a Musharraf-like courage to listen to criticism that is awaiting them!
(Dr. Naqvi is the Chief Editor of the monthly ‘Relic’. He can be reached at dr.muzafarnaqvi@gmail.com)
