All that has been happening on the political front in the country, since the past over six months, leaves everyone totally confused. Widespread speculations vis-à-vis the rapidly changing political scenario further add to this growing confusion. People are at loss to understand which political group they should believe in and which they shouldn’t. With national elections fast approaching all of them seem to be harping the same tune. They are vociferously making tall claims of bringing about the much needed ‘Change’ that this country so badly needs. They are also talking about empowering the electorate of this country who actually possess the power of electing and placing people in positions of authority to govern.
These political groups are also making big promises to the people of Pakistan to fulfil all their basic needs of life (food, shelter, education, health, employment etc) as enshrined in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Bringing progress and prosperity to the country and the nation, and making Pakistan standout in the comity of respected and developed nations of the world are some other important commitments these political parties are making to the people.
Undeniably, whatever they are saying or promising are issues that have always been central to the interests of this nation. The fact of the matter is that such commitments were also made by every government that was elected to power by the masses in the past. Unfortunately, however, none of them made any sincere effort to fulfil them. It is a known fact that in this country people mattered to the rulers only for serving their personal interest and greed to come to power.
Once voted to power, neither the people nor this country ever mattered to them. Had they been sincere in dealing with the affairs of Pakistan in a just and judicious manner and had they honoured the promises they made to the people of this country, then today’s Pakistan would have been a different Pakistan. It would have been the Pakistan that was envisioned by its founding father Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The question that now arises is should people believe in the rhetoric of different political groups on the issue of bringing a change in the country? Should they vest their trust, once again, in those who have deceived them over and again in the past? If looked at from the point of view of the past political history of this country, the spontaneous response should be ‘no’. Since, however, things have to keep moving in the lives of a nation some decision in this regard will have to be arrived at.
The best and the only way for the people to ensure that they are not deceived once again by the power-hungry rulers of this country, they should exercise their right to vote judiciously. They must vote those political parties out which have been brought to the citadel of power by them, time and again, but have failed to deliver. On the contrary, they should make conscious efforts to vote those people to power who are people of unquestionable integrity and unparalleled competence and have not been tried before.
But all this would be possible only if the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commission of Pakistan are made independent and powerful. Needless to say that it would also be imperative to revamp the country’s electoral system and make it absolutely infallible if the above objectives were to be achieved successfully.
