When the people decide to march in, the government has to march out
When the 1977 elections were disputed, Abdul Hafiz Kardar – who was a cabinet member in Punjab — advised Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB) to immediately go for re-elections. A disputed ballot takes away the legitimacy from an elected government. ZAB, instead, relied on state apparatus to crush the protest. He fell into the establishment’s trap. Despite his popularity his government was sent packing and he ended up at the gallows. The democratic gains (from 1971 to 1977) were neutralised. Pakistan came under the evil boots of General Zia-ul-Haq, who then created the third rate, inept and corrupt political leadership that the nation has to endure.
Compared to the May 2013 disputed ballot the elections in 1977 were far less controversial. It was the delay in holding fresh elections that caused the collapse of the entire democratic edifice. Democracy survives with the support of the masses, not by lathi-charge and tear gas. Being an experienced activist I firmly believe that when the people decide to march in, the government has to march out. Our record of struggle stands out. We were able to topple four khaki usurpers from 1958 to 2008. The latest march that started on August 14, 2014 has ultimately crippled and contained the government of Nawaz Sharif. It is Raheel Sharif who is in the driver’s seat and why? Mainly because the political mandate is disputed. Only a fresh in-disputable ballot can bring back civilian authority. By not holding re-elections the entrapment for the government is increasing. It is a repeat of the 1977 scenario; it seems no lessons have been learnt.
By the overwhelming victory of the Aam Adami Party (AAP) in the local elections in Delhi, Indian democracy has been strengthened. With only three seats in a house of 70, the ruling BJP has conceded defeat. Everyone has accepted the people’s mandate. There are no khaki/qazi/baboo conspiracies to deny AAP the right to rule Delhi. The entire electoral process is credible and indisputable. Earlier the ruling Congress Party lost to BJP in the national elections and now AAP prevailed over BJP in the local ballot in Delhi. This is the depth of Indian democracy. No one has the right to rule, the decision is with the people who exercise their will through a free and fair ballot.
Ten disputed elections from 1977 to 2013 have seriously damaged civilian authority and governance. The slide will continue unless a credible ballot is held, and the sooner the better. Delay will only hurt the party in power as their lack of governance will bring down their popularity. In order to retain power they will then get involved with rigging. State apparatus will be misused which will further weaken them. Politicisation has ruined important state organs like police and Frontier Constabulary and rendered them non-functional.
The founding fathers built institutions with their sweat and blood. As the first generation of Pakistan we witnessed their struggle against all odds. My father who was a worker of the freedom movement worked all his life 14 to 16 hours. His work hours were reduced to eight when he was hospitalised in the last few days of his life. He was not alone, it was an entire generation who sacrificed their past and present for the future of their nation. In the end they were cornered and disillusioned by the mafia rule that engulfed the new set up. Some of them are still around to narrate stories of their struggle but for most of them it is a lost case.
The smooth transition of power in 2013 was a remarkable event but then it was short lived. It was widely hoped that the new players (president, prime minister, army chief, chief justice, and speaker) would move in the direction of democracy but it did not happen. There were serious allegations of rigging against the speaker. A complaint was lodged with the election tribunal which was required to investigate and decide within 120 days. The custodian of democracy used his influence and got a stay order from the Lahore High Court (LHC). The entire process was stalled for 18 months till the judge was elevated to the Supreme Court and the stay was vacated. The tribunal verdict is now awaited. Such incidents grossly undermine civilian institutions and derail democracy. There should be an investigation and reference to the Supreme Judicial Council as Judges and Generals do not fall within the ambit of National Accountability Bureaus (NAB).
The power of the masses is expressed through the ballot. The Election Commission of Pakistan has to ensure a fool proof balloting process for democracy to function. In case of infringements the remedial processes should kick-in. the Qazis, baboos and khakis should side with the people not with their manipulators.
The electoral process in 2013 was seriously flawed and must be corrected through fresh elections without delay. Either the Judicial Commission should investigate or the constitution allows for a referendum. Let us all follow the constitution to break the impasse. For the supremacy of the civilian institution the PM has two choices: Resign and call fresh elections or go for a referendum on the question of fresh polls. Unfortunately for Pakistan small players ply on large screens. Ayub Khan lacked courage to follow his own constitution and handed over power to the army chief instead of the speaker. ZAB could have saved both democracy and the constitution by calling fresh elections but he delayed the agreement. Nawaz Sharif’s hold on power is loosening, his authority is confined to the PM house only yet he is unwilling to break the election impasse. When will Pakistan and its civilian institutions, painstakingly built by the founding fathers, come first? Only civilians can build and sustain their institutions and so far they have failed to do so, leaving the field open for manipulation resulting in sham democracy and fake dictators. Hopefully Nawaz Sharif will not end his political innings where ZAB did.
