Indian Defence Review

The people of Pakistan casted their vote on the 25th of July 2018 for their Wazeer-E-Azam/Prime Minister. The results though expected in favour of PTI (Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaaf) were confirmed only after the voting process was completed. The time is apt to tread the path of the election engineering process in Pakistan and bring out some salient and unique features of this exercise which was conducted under the tacit supervision of the Deep State.

Paradox of Democracy

This was the third consecutive elections in Pakistan without the intervening period of any military coup or military rule; speaks volumes about the democratic aspirations of the people. But, it also means that if the winning party does not bring about the expected changes for strengthening the pillars of democracy within a particular timeframe, then Pakistan will face a paradoxical situation.

The problem is that Pakistan’s democratic system is marred under the complexities of military rule, patronage politics, religious and bourgeoisie dictatorship. These structural constraints are so entrenched in the society and it’s institutions that it is near impossible to bypass them. One of the biggest challenges of the State of Pakistan is that the Army has soaked itself deeply in the State, so much so that they remain inextricably intertwined. And the legacy of the “Uniform-ed Democracy” still continues. As the very word uniform suggests, it is the men in uniform i.e. the Pakistan Military who are calling the shots in every political discourse and process in Pakistan; uniform also because the army’s rule has been consistent, sustained and unwavering since the birth of Pakistan

Quasi-Military Censorship

 Hameed Haroon1, a noted journalist, argued that a new form of Quasi – military censorship was being witnessed in these elections, wherein the weapon of mass destruction was both threatand coercion. The military was successful in quashing media both online and offline, freedom of Press and any prospective political opponents.

The restrictions on media were suffocating and worse than the martial law, says Zaffar Abbas2, editor Dawn who talked about the Army’s play of twin Strategy of “culling the political leadership” and “curtailing the electorates’ access to information.” For instance it played its card safely and timely by removing Mr. Nawaz Sharif, a popular leader from the electoral scene altogether, implicating him on charges of corruption; furthermore, the political leaders in Baluchistan claimed that they were threatened by the Army establishment to switch parties. The electorate felt increasingly abused and cheated. Unless military shows some restraint and keeps itself in barracks, things don’t seem very bright for genuine democracy in Pakistan.

Mainstreaming of the Radical Groups

Radical groups like the militant groups, terrorist outfits, far right religious groups, banned militant organisations etc. all have been successful in entering the electoral arena. This was brought to the interim set-up’s notice by Senate Chairman and senior PPP leader Raza Rabbani3 much before the elections, but to no avail.

This stupendous increase in their numbers has become the new norm of the national politics of Pakistan and also a cause of concern for the democratic stakeholders. Distinct examples include the exponential and sudden rise of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan, an Islamic Far Right political party; Milli Muslim League – an Islamic political party launched by Jamat–ud-Dawaa which openly works as LeT. Though, the Election Commission of Pakistan does not recognize MML and the US Dept. of State too regards it as a terrorist organization, but it still continues to operate unabated; Allah-o-Akbar Tehreek, the latest incarnation of the LeT’s political wing;  theAhle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, initially known as Sipah-e-Sahaba-Pakistan was banned by Pervez Musharraf in 2002 as a terrorist organization, but was removed from the terror list by the establishment in June  2018, along with their party chief Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi, to facilitate their participation in these elections. Hafiz Saeed, a UN designated terrorist, carried out rallies and campaigned without any disruptions, only because he had the blessing of the Pakistan Military. This further adds on to the vagaries of the democratic system.

Pakistan has already been placed under the FATF Grey List for failing to comply with the international commitments to prevent its financial system from being used by groups that have been designated by the United Nations as terrorist entities.

 The election result showed that the people’s verdict was against these ultra-right religious and militant groups, but the very fact of their entry in the electoral arena proves that, these radical groups with the backing of the military will continue to remain in the Pakistan’s political circle.

Complexities and Nuances of the Election Process

Electoral exercise is the democratic expression of the will of the people and it is through their votes that the elected representatives are chosen. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had registered 122 political parties for the 2018 elections, far more than in the past but its working reflected the Diktat of the Military Brass. More than 80,000 military personnel were stationed inside as well as outside the polling booths, reflecting the omnipotent presence of the military even when the citizens are exercising their basic political right i.e. voting.  The judiciary too, failed emphatically in asserting its voice on the electoral malpractices and election related violence which also saw a rise in the suicide attacks in Peshawar, Bannu and Mastang. The elections, though have taken place but the turnout has been average and results far from representative.

The whole campaign was structured to bring one party to power at any cost, and the people had but to vote for it. And since that particular party had the all -weather support of the Army’s, such franchise remains mere eyewash. These electoral exercises are only for the International Community to see, watch and praise. It stops there.

International Observers from the Commonwealth and the European Union countries had differing opinion about the conduct of elections. Mr. SY Quraishi, former Chief Election Commissioner of India, observed that the elections were free and fair; based on his analysis of monitoring the polls in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.4

On the other hand, The Chief of European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Pakistan, Mr. Michael Gahler, with his team of more than 100 election observers in Islamabad, Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pankhtunkhwa; felt that these elections were not as good as in 2013. The preliminary statement of the Report stated – “Positive changes to the legal framework were overshadowed by restrictions on freedom of expression and unequal campaign opportunities”,thereby suggesting that more transparency measures are required to make these elections truly democratic.5

There were also a few positives linked with the elections. Perhaps a beginning and an icing on the cake were the various first timer’s; be it political party or voters in Pakistan.

First Time Franchisee’s – Icing on the Cake

July 25, marked a historic day for Transgender Community, since the Pak Election Commission removed gender as criteria for a candidate to contest elections. The “Khawajasiras” as known in Pakistan; denoting transsexuals, transvestites and eunuchs,  led by Nadeem Kashish, believed that votes of the people gave them an identity.6

 Mahesh Kumar Malani of Pakistan Peoples’Party (PPP) became the first Hindu candidate to win the National Assembly seat, sixteen years after non – muslims got the right to vote, reported PTI, July 28, 2018. In a historic first, Women in conservative villages of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab voted for the first time since independence to fulfill the legal requirement of min 10% women turnout to validate their result, reported Dawn, July 25th, 2018.7

The electoral representation would have been complete had the commission ensured the participation of the differently able community and also of the Gypsies. The differently able community is estimated to be at least 20 million Pakistanis, accounting for 10% of the country’s population as per Isha Fahad, Daily Times News, July 18, 2018.8 Pakistan Census does not collect data on Gypsies either, states Rana Arifa, a human rights lawyer in Pakistan. They too unfortunately had not been represented at all.9

Future of relations with India can be gauged from the victory speech of Prime Minister – in – waiting Mr. Imran Khan. India was mentioned in the last amongst the list of countries he spoke about, though optimism and hope for peace with India was reflected when he spoke about resolution of all disputes between India and Pakistan, but like all other leaders of Pakistan, he too spoke about Kashmir as the core issue and how the human rights violations perpetuated by the Indian security forces continues. No mention however was made about cross border terrorism which remains a bone of contention between the two neighbors’. He believes that good relations with India can only begin once the blame game between the two countries ends. An economically and politically stable Pakistan is the need of the hour which in turn will be good for India as well.  Hence a mixed bag of optimism and caution will continue to guide the narrative of the Indo-Pak relations.

Conclusion

In conclusion one can only say that the Trajectory of Pakistan elections remain mired with complexities, controversies, violence, rigging and corruption. The concept of free and fair elections continues to be a distant mirage. The results are not genuine franchise at all. The outcome of the elections had already been pre-decided and the whole façade of electioneering was only for the world and the liberal democracies to see at large.

To realise the people’s right to representation, citizens not only need right information to enable them to make well considered choices but also an environment to vote which is free of fear. Until and unless there is clear demarcation of the military and the political roles, true and genuine democracy will remain an illusion in Pakistan. Electoral exercises like these will continue to remain hollow conforming to the dictum of “Uniform-ed Democracy” in Pakistan.

Courtesy: http://www.claws.in/1924/commentary-on-pakistan-elections-2018-verdict-is-out-the-winner-is-%E2%80%9Cuniform-ed-democracy%E2%80%9D-dr-jyoti-m-pathania.html