ECP needs to undo wrongs wherever they have taken place
Saturday witnessed a display of mass enthusiasm unmatched since the historic 1971 elections. People stood for hours in long queues to vote braving the May heat. They belonged to all classes, communities and age groups. Many students, both male and female, who were known for their apolitical attitudes this time turned into political activists and persuaded their families and neighborhoods to come out to vote. Old men walked to polling stations carrying their sticks, the invalid in wheelchairs, some came on crutches. Many expatriate Pakistanis came back just to cast their vote. Everyone wanted change. All were convinced this could be brought about by the power of the ballot.
Despite threats of violence people thronged to polling stations all over the country. The political parties marked by terrorists refused to be cowed down, took the losses of their comrades with forbearance and dignity and fought the elections. In cities where terrorists had conduced several attacks during the campaign, undaunted voters queued up to cast their votes. In Quetta, men and women came out to the polling stations in thousands despite a bomb blast in nearby Kuchlak. In tribal areas where political parties were allowed to contest for the first time, widespread enthusiasm was seen on election day The people of Pakistan have thus sent a message to the TTP and separatists in Balochistan that they believe in democracy and are united against terrorism. The people have also sent a clear message to the political parties: No party can rest on its laurels. Every one will be judged on the basis of its performance. The age of wheeling and dealing is over. With the passage of time, the dynastic factor too is losing importance.
Thanks the efforts on the part of different stakeholders, the elections have in the main concluded successfully. The ECP took initial steps in improving the voting system. The caretaker setup at the center also was seen to be totally neutral. The armed force and security agencies called the bluff of the terrorists who wanted to upset the elections through terrorist attacks.
There were however serious complaints at certain places. Reports about use of muscle power to change the results have emerged from a number of places with Karachi providing the most glaring examples of the activity. The PPP, JI and PTI in the city have made serious allegations of forcible occupation of polling stations and stuffing of the ballot boxes. While the PPP did not name any political party, Jamaat e Islami and PTI have accused the MQM of being responsible for acts of violence and rigging. JI has subsequently announced the boycott of elections in Karachi and Hyderabad in protest .The PML-N and PTI have also rejected the Karachi elections. There is an urgent need to undo the wrong wherever it has taken place.
