As Pakistan holds general elections today to elect a new Parliament, I wonder whether it is election or selection. To me it is a selection of candidates who are able to successfully run their campaign in elections that are considered to be the bloodiest in the history. In the past it was widely believed that intelligence agencies played their part in the election campaign and its results to suit the establishment of that time. Apparently this time this responsibility has either been outsourced to the Taleban, or in the face of no resistance from any quarters, the militant organization has taken over the task itself.

The Taleban threatened to hit the election campaign of three liberal parties — the Pakistan Peoples Party, the Awami National Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement. They minced no words while issuing the threat and later implemented the same without any fear. Rallies, public meetings, corner meetings, election offices, candidates and their supporters all were attacked, practically denying these parties a level-playing field in three provinces. So far, more than 100 people have been killed in terrorist attacks in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The same is applicable for religious minorities who are generally disillusioned with the electoral process. These elections are being held under joint electoral system wherein all adult Pakistani citizens can vote regardless of his/her religion, sect, caste and gender. However, an issue with voter list will keep a large number of religious minorities out of the election process. By the way, head of a leading sectarian party has already asked the country’s liberals to get registered as “religious minorities”!

Perhaps all this is being cooked up in the face of American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014. All those with strange goals to achieve in the post-2014 Afghanistan shall be reminded that Afghans always keep their national interests on top. Karzai has already raised the controversial issue of Durand Line. Afghan Taleban have also no love lost for Pakistan on this issue (as they proved in 1990s by saying no to Pakistan request to officially accept the Durand Line as international border).

Though the outgoing government was marred with corruption charges, I see no political stability, security and peace, improvement in energy and education sectors during the tenure of upcoming right-wing government. — Masood Khan, Jubail