As most of the general elections’ results are out by now, a very grim picture has emerged requiring some introspection on the part of political parties in Pakistan. The Taleban were quite successful in impacting the election campaign of liberal parties while resorting to bombing of the election meetings and rallies, and killing of candidates. Their strategy bore fruit on May 11 when Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP) were respectively routed out of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Incoming governments in these two provinces, of which one represents 65 percent of total population while the other one has militant-controlled tribal areas, are going to be run by right-wing political parties.
The most disturbing factor is elimination of political parties of national stature that could claim to represent all the provinces. Voting on ethnic basis shows a weakening federation.
As the party that will form the government in Islamabad has got a comfortable majority from its base province, therefore, representation of other provinces at federal level will be a question mark. This is an area of concern which may lead to ethnic polarization on a mass scale. In other words we may be buying additional unwanted issues in the name of democracy. In my opinion, it’s time for political parties to address the reasons by which their mandate has got limited to their ethnic enclaves only. — Masood Khan, Jubail
Time for introspection
