Re: Preparing for general (s)election 2007
^Coz of their sins.
Re: Preparing for general (s)election 2007
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So u acknowledge that b4, 2004 he had no legal authority to be a President.
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The existing President of Pakistan, Rafiq Tarar, remained in office until June 2001. When he coup'ed Nawaz Sharif he was the "Chief Executive" not the president of Pakistan. Now Musharraf could not hold that title forever and he needed to take the title of President because he had to go for talks to Agra with the Indians. Shortly after Musharraf's takeover, several people filed court petitions challenging his assumption of power. On May 12, 2000, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered Musharraf to hold general elections by October 12, 2002. In an attempt to legitimize his presidency and assure its continuance after the approaching restoration of democracy, he held a referendum on April 30, 2002 to extend his presidential term to five years after the October elections. Which he did and he won! So he had the LEGAL AUTHORITY to take the title of President.
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^Coz of their sins.
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I do not think anyone finds your blind anti-Musharraf rhetoric interesting.
Re: Preparing for general (s)election 2007
Another one this time from a former supporter of Musharraf on whats going on
Reality check
By Shafqat Mahmood
It seems that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has just woken up to smell the coffee. Its umbrage at the election results in Karachi and Thatta has the innocence of a child whose chocolates have been purloined. What an interesting word, purloined. It is theft through a sleight of the hand or a heist on false pretences. To be successful it relies on naivety and it seems my former party has it in dollops. Did it really think that its former and frustrated member, Arbab Ghulam Rahim, would let it win a bye election in Sindh?
The writing has been on the wall for other parties such as the PML-N and the JI but not for the PPP. It keeps declaring that it will contest the coming national election come what may, even under the baleful supervision of General Musharraf. Now that the party has suddenly realised that no fair deal is possible under this set up, the dreaded word ‘movement’ has begun to be bandied about. But, will this have any effect on the boss man?
Not likely because he has tested the waters and feels confident that nothing and no one can stop him. It is green lights all the way for him with sirens blaring. Let the bystanders crib and complain and opinion writers write scathing pieces but he will reach the journey’s end at his own pace and time. It helps that he has no confusion regarding the end result. Like a popular character in an American comic strip, Lola will get what Lola wants, opposition or no opposition.
Despite the likely hurdles, the PPP may still participate in the elections because Benazir Bhutto considers skipping them the most serious of blunders. This is apropos her experience in the non party elections of 1985 when the party boycotted and lived to regret it. But, that was then and this is now. Its participation and that of the other parties without a level playing field is useless. It will only give legitimacy to a preordained crowning of the King General.
Consider the lay of the land my friends. Elections don’t just happen on the polling day. Much happens before and some afterwards. Regarding the latter, in 2002 the regime added to the growing literature on how to rig elections by the simple expedient of declaring false results. **Stories of this come from across the land but the most famous is of a constituency in Lahore. The PML-Q candidate and an important personality now, rang up his friends in the media on the election night to tell them that he had lost. He woke up next morning to find himself a winner. **
His was not the only case. Another former PPP minister from Rahimyar Khan is still going around telling anyone who will listen, the sad tale of his victory becoming an inexplicable defeat. The beneficiaries of this largess from unseen hands are appropriately described by one of the manipulators as his butterflies. How many of these colourful creatures will be created this time around?
It depends on how well the pre election games pan out. While the opposition slept or was induced into a comatose state, the first building block for the presidential election was laid during the District Government polls in 2005. Across the land, everything was done to ensure ‘positive’ results. According to Brussels-based International Crisis Group:** “The government manipulation of the local polls involved gerrymandering of districts to break up support for political opponents of the military; reshuffling of officials to ensure those favourable to the military controlled elections in key areas; rejecting the nominations of opposition candidates; giving direct support to certain candidates in what was supposed to be a non-party election; and direct rigging at the polls, including ballot stuffing, intimidation and seizure of voting stations.”**
There you have it. While the national election was still two years away, the regime had begun to put its plan 2007 into effect with military precision. District governments are in any case important because they control the state machinery at the local level but they have an added importance in the coming election. While neutral caretaker governments would be in place at the federal and provincial level, district governments will remain unchanged. They will thus be the only partisan entity in office during the elections.
Having secured the first base to use a baseball analogy, the regime has been working very hard to give an extra edge to the likely ruling party candidates. Reports are that development budgets allocated to each ruling party MNA have been increased to Rs100 million this year and to Rs50 million for the MPAs. Even non-members but likely ruling party candidates are being allocated development funds to be spent at their discretion. This naturally gives them a huge advantage over the opposition party candidates.
An important element in this election strategy is the creation of shadowy cells that with the help of intelligence agencies are carrying out a seat–by- seat analysis. Wherever the ruling party candidate is perceived to be weak, opposition members are being induced to jump ship. Hence, the almost daily announcement of so and so having suddenly seen the light and become an admirer of General Musharraf and the Chaudhry brothers. The latest entry being none other than that of Mian Azhar, who had been earlier dumped by the ruling party.
One last element in the pre election manoeuvres does not make news headlines but is crucial at the local level. It is the direction to local administrators and particularly the police to give particular attention to the desires of the likely ruling party candidates. In an environment where virtually everybody has some issue or the other with the state, this makes the ruling party nominees formidable and potent candidates.
The net result is that an environment has been created where even the ordinary voters have begun to believe that General Musharraf and his political supporters are here to stay. For an election to capture the imagination of the people, it is critical that it should be seen as an instrument of change. Whether it brings about a change or not is irrelevant. The voter must perceive the possibility of change through the ballot.
If an environment is created where a voter is convinced that nothing will change as a result of the election, it is not only demoralising but unleashes other dynamics. Instead of voting for parties of their choice, the voters start kowtowing to the official party candidates and actually supporting him or her as insurance for their own and their clan’s future. This is particularly true of semi urban and rural areas of Punjab where already such a change is visible.
Given these realities which are not hidden from the opposition parties, it is not a surprise that many are considering boycotting the elections. It is a tough choice because opting out of the game is not easy. But considering that Musharraf and his team have already posted a score of 400 on the board, this run chase has little chance of success. Will they still go ahead and give legitimacy to the regime’s election management plan? Only time will tell.
Email: [email protected]
Re: Preparing for general (s)election 2007
We are talking constituation here buddy.
"Chief Executive" is that a part of Pakistan's constitution.
Is "referendum" is the way of electing President in Pakistan.
And cill out, i am not dying to see Musharraf out of power, coz on a personal level i have benfitted a lot from him being a President, coz one of close generals is a relative. And i also know that if he leaves things won't chane for the better.
But i am sick of this raping of constituion followed by forced Nikah. Where a dictator over throws a gov and then obtains legitimacy by referendum or a rubber stamp government.
The 1973 constitution was adopted unanimously by all people of Pakistan and should be followed by letter if have any hope of establishing democracy in Pakistan.
Re: Preparing for general (s)election 2007
"Chief Executive" is that a part of Pakistan's constitution.
Is "referendum" is the way of electing President in Pakistan.
And cill out, i am not dying to see Musharraf out of power, coz on a personal level i have benfitted a lot from him being a President, coz one of close generals is a relative. And i also know that if he leaves things won't chane for the better.
But i am sick of this raping of constituion followed by forced Nikah. Where a dictator over throws a gov and then obtains legitimacy by referendum or a rubber stamp government.
The 1973 constitution was adopted unanimously by all people of Pakistan and should be followed by letter if have any hope of establishing democracy in Pakistan.
It does NOT matter one bit considering the SUPREME COURT of Pakistan told him what he had to do and he followed through. And what democracy are you talking about?
The one where Nawaz Sharif got the Supreme Court of Pakistan attacked with?
The one that brings corrupt officials into government?
There is no such thing as democracy in Pakistan and there never was! Musharraf has made a few reforms that might change. Remember that the current assemblies will elect him and his party has the majority of seats in Parliament. He will re-elected and we will then see what is the outcome after that....
Re: Preparing for general (s)election 2007
If you hate Nawaz&BB to the extent that u r ready to embrace every dictator then do it y all means but don't say that Musharraf is not over riding constitution.
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You have still failed to give me an example of Musharraf overidding the National Assembly unconstitutionally
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And don't talk about corrupt officials. Who is sitting in Musharraf's lap? The same old arses that were with Nawaz, Sheikh Rashid, Faisal Saleh, Chaudhary Brothers.
Yes i know that current assemblies will re-elect him, for that matter these assemblies would have even elected a dog if Musharraf asked them to.
Re: Preparing for general (s)election 2007
Blind Mushy supporters ignore the fact his very takeover was unconstitutional, and his many actions after continue to be, but they will keep coming up with lame excuses
To go to the extent of claiming supremacy because other govts had corrupt officials, while Mush choses the most corrupt for his govt…yet again the lame excuses will come for this
Re: Preparing for general (s)election 2007
You continue to call his other actions unconstitutional yet you can not name them. I think we have another Imran Khan on our hands ladies and gentlemen!
Lame escuses? A Supreme Court ruling is an escuse now?
ALSO I DARE YOU TO PULL UP HOW MUSHARRAF IS CORRUPT.
You sir are a sensationalist and you can not give me a SINGLE example for each of the things I have just pressed you for right now.