As I’ve always said, Musharrafs deal with the PPP was never going to happen primarily because his supporters are confident that they can rig the '07 elections silly (in Punjab mostly and sindh to stave of the PPP).
If the recent by elections are any indication the preparation for large scale rigging is well underway.
The result of the recent by-elections in Sindh were evident even before the polling was held – amid a high-profile campaign run for the PML-Q and MQM candidates
The by-elections held on February 10, 2007 for a National Assembly seat in Karachi and a Sindh Assembly seat in Jamshoro are just another reminder to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of its inability to hold an election that is free of rigging and government influence. These elections were necessitated after the deaths of MMA’s Abdus Sattar Afghani who won the NA-250 Karachi-XII seat in 2002 general election and PPP’s Ghulam Nabi Shoro who returned successful in 2002 on PS-71 Dadu-I in Jamshoro [which was upgraded to a district 2005].
The result of these by-elections were evident even before the polling was held amid a high-profile campaign run for the PML-Q and MQM candidates run not only by their respective parties, but by the federal and provincial governments. According to PPP’s top leaders Qaim Ali Shah, the by-elections were more of a matter of prestige for Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Rahim, who wanted to show his efficiency and effectiveness to his shadowy mentors. In Karachi, it was kind of a similar situation – MQM had to win the seat to prove its popularity and set the stage for the upcoming general election.
Violations of election rules and procedures were rampant and widespread in both by-election constituencies. Use of official cars, campaigning by ministers, advisors and officials of the federal and provincial governments, expenses beyond prescribed limits by major contestants, postings and transfers, graffiti (even on government buildings that were to be used as polling stations), over-sized banners and billboards and election rallies on main roads were too vivid to ignore. But the ECP managed to ignore them, let alone taking notice of President Pervez Musharraf’s visit to Karachi a day before the by-election to inaugurate the six mega projects of the Karachi District Government controlled by the MQM – clearly an election rally for the Haq Parasts.
In addition to explicit violation of election rules and procedures, the appointment of presiding officers and lack of their training, lax security arrangements, free passage of government-backed supporters as well as powerful locals even belonging to the opposition candidates to enter the polling stations, etc. indicate the incapacity of the ECP to manage election even in two constituencies. Many of the presiding officers were not aware of the election rules and others who knew were too afraid to enforce them for fear of reaction and revenge. Police officials deputed outside polling outside Jamshoro said they were ordered to allow anybody wearing a PML badge to enter the polling station.
As expected, the opposition parties rejected the election as rigged. The PPP even hinted at the possibility of boycotting the next general election. This certainly is not a good omen for democratic development in Pakistan. While political parties are equally responsible for ensuring the integrity of the electoral processes, the prime responsibility lies on the ECP, which is constitutionally mandated to ensure that all political contestants are getting a level playing field.
The inability of ECP to deliver on its constitutional mandate should not be confused with it having little powers; rather it is a matter of the will to assert powers it already enjoys. The weak enforcement of election laws and procedures also inculcates distrust among people who already do not have faith in the power of their votes. Declining turnouts leading to consolidation of political monopolies in a few hands is just one outcome of rigged electoral processes.
The by-election in Bannu due in March provides another chance to the ECP to test and assert its powers. Democratic development in Pakistan hinges on free election, respect and sanctity of vote and writ of election laws.
– By Muddassir Rizvi
