We should be grateful to the outside world who is wishing an undisrupted elections coming May. However, this is not what’s going to happen. Pakistani Taliban (TTP) have clearly advised the general public which parties they shall not vote for or attend their rallies. They have threatened to attack rallies of liberal parties —-Pakistan Peoples Party, Awami National Party and Muttahida Quami Movement, while have put their weight in favor of right-wing religious political parties. In the recent past, North KP province has witnessed repeated attacks on ANP related political rallies. One would fear an exponential increase in such acts of violence against liberal parties. Same time, right-wing religious political parties are able to hold huge rallies in Peshawar, Swat, Lahore, Quetta and Karachi wherein Imran Khan, Nawaz Sharif, Fazal Rahman and Munawar Hassan have addressed their supporters. As Pakistan moves towards elections in May, it is unfortunate that right-wing religious/sectarian political parties will get undue benefit from the covet support from Taliban. This may not give level playing field to liberal parties; resulting in an outcome which may leave bitter memories for the years to come.
MASOOD KHAN
Jubail, Saudi Arabia
