Elections Roundup: Insaafians in disarray

There was a letter to and a letter from the ECP on Monday, as the elections once again came back to take centre stage on the last day of Eid.

The first letter was the reply submitted to the ECP by Babar Awan about objections raised against the candidature of his client Imran Khan in the NA-53 constituency in Islamabad.

This is the second time Imran’s candidacy has been called into question because of his alleged child with Sita White, with a similar complaint being filed in Karachi NA-243. It’s strange, but of all the things that could have haunted Imran this election cycle, this was probably pretty low on the list. But here we are thanks to former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.

The other letter, of course, was sent by the ECP to the NADRA chairman. According to the letter, officials at NADRA shared the data with “unrelated persons.” This may perhaps be the most dangerous news related to the elections up until now.

While Pakistan is not in a position to be digitally rigged, any breach of such sensitive information is alarming. On this the ECP and Imran Khan seem to be on the same page for now, even though Imran has gone the extra mile of demanding that the NADRA chairman step down, even if the demand for someone to step down is simply a force of habit for him.

Whatever the case, the PTI seems to be thinking forward by complaining about the elections already. Just as they complained about NADRA to the ECP, PTI Spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry complained about the ECP to the press. He accused the ECP of making slow progress in the electoral progress, seemingly forgetting that it was his party that caused the delays in chief ministerial appointments, with its U-turns in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The move is smart, and establishes that the PTI is already unhappy with whatever the results of the polls are.

But despite their litany of complaints, Imran Khan-led PTI is still in a major spot of trouble in regards to the internal party politics. Even as Imran promised not to allow spurned party workers to blackmail him into giving them tickets, he agreed to change the list of candidates for reserved seats, allegedly doctored by Dr Shireen Mazari, which she denies.

This happened after significant pressure from within the party. Blackmail or persuasion? Imran would have us believe it was the latter even if it’s looking like the former.

Even as we get closer to the polls, the PTI’s inexperience at elections is showing. The PML-N, on the other hand, is looking like a well-oiled machine. Even the PPP is whirring along without too much noise.

Postscript:

The election took a backseat as the nation decided to wind down for the three days of Eid. And while news cycles were going to be slow in any case, they struck a particularly sombre tone because of the worsening health of former first lady Kulsoom Nawaz.

As the situation stands now, Kulsoom Nawaz is unconscious, and on a ventilator. The Sharif family is deliberating whether to take her off.

It is another difficult situation facing Nawaz right now, but one of much more personal dimensions than he is used to. What was heartening to see, however, had been the unquestioned messages of support and prayers that the former first lady has received. Despite the bitterness that exists in the current political scenario, there were no ifs, buts or even-thoughs.

Perhaps our politicians are learning some things. The response to Kulsoom Nawaz has been appropriate, Imran Khan shook hands with the outgoing prime minister in parliament, and the assassination attempt on Ahsan Iqbal was condemned, no questions asked.

Despite everything, such gestures of decency are important in a democracy, and one is glad that we have still not stooped to speak badly of the ailing.

But even though one does not wish to think of it so, you can’t help but wonder what effect this all might have back home. Will Maryam Nawaz and her father delay their campaigning to stay with Begum Kulsoom? And what if she does not make it? And if the worst does happen, there will be a funeral. And as personal as that might be, it is the sort of occasion where even going or not going will count as a political statement. Whatever happens, it’s looking like a tough road ahead for everyone.

Post-postscript:

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar took a suo motu notice on Sunday regarding complaints pertaining to non-issuance of computerised national identity cards (CNICs) to the transgender community.

CNICs will be important for elections. It is good to see that the transgender community is not going to wait out these polls silently.