The political leaders of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), who have ruled the country twice from 1988 to 1999, have developed a habit of reiterating their off drum beaten statements in order to mislead the general public. The current prime minister and some other prominent PPP members, while counting their achievements during last five years have claimed that their party has restored the original constitution of 1973 in its true form. This is a lie. The current ‘restored’ version of the constitution still contains many amendments made by General Zia that are controversial and difficult to interpret and implement. Similarly, Nawaz Sharif, revealing his party manifesto, has claimed that economic reforms introduced by him are a role model for neighbouring countries. This claim is also highly exaggerated.
The real position is that the 5th and 6th five year plans were approved by a dictator, not by the PML-N. The 5th plan was perceived by politicians to have been adapted from development plans in India and South Korea. Maybe, Mian Sahib, who was a CM under the patronage of General Zia, has no option but to make such claims. Even if the era in which a few influential people managed to amass wealth at the cost of millions can be said to be devevelopment, it cannot be construed as having come from his economic reforms. If Mian sahib is referring to his stints at power after becoming the champion of democracy in 90’s, our neighboring countries, especially South Korea and India, were already far ahead of us by that time.
Nevertheless, manifesto for 2013 election, presented by PML-N contained some good promises once again to fool the public. Similarly, the false claims of the PPP, which as promised, took the best revenge from this poor nation through democracy is wooing the public and spending millions for another shot at power. Maybe, it’s about time that we for once vote, and vote for this country, not for petty promises that never come true.