Fear of Defeat

All of PTI’s rival political parties have decided not to contest next month’s by-elections on NA seats

Karachi: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is set for its unopposed election to 64 National Assembly seats next month by-elections, as all the rival political parties have decided to call it a day.

The tenure of these seats would just last for three to four months when the term of the present assembly is set to mature.

However, it is not clear in case of single party in the field, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would conduct all the formality of holding the by-elections or result would be announced without going through the exercise.

The National Assembly seats became vacant when one fine morning, Speaker National Assembly, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf decided to accept the PTI lawmakers’ resignations, going against his earlier stand that he will not accept the resignations unless he meets them in person.

The speaker who was sitting on those resignations for months, wanted to meet the lawmakers to ascertain if they were not coerced into resignation.

However, a sudden change of heart took place PTI decided to go back to the parliament. The speakers’ actions were clearly not in conformity with the democratic norms.

The government is clearly trying to use dire financial situation and rising militant attacks in the country as the pretext to delay the elections.

The Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), which is practically the ruling party, is focused on manipulating election date of the Punjab and KP elections, apparently out of fear since it is on a weak footing and might lose due to the unbearable inflation people are facing.

The Government is delusional if it feels that a half-empty National Assembly represent the entire electorate.

It would not come as a complete surprise if the government announces that it cannot provide funding for all the elections in the coming months, taking a cue from Sri Lanka’s situation.

The bankrupt Island announced a few days ago that it is set to postpone local elections – due next month – owing to shortage of funds for the purpose.

According to a court submission by the Sri Lanka Election Commission, the treasury has refused to fund the printing of ballot papers, fuel or police protection for the polling booths.

The situation sounds too similar to Pakistan where more or less similar situation prevails partly on governments intention for not holding the elections.

The Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, has already stated before the Supreme Court of Pakistan that government is not forthcoming in providing finances and the State organs are not helping it to hold the elections.

The military and police have also showed their inability to provide security for the elections due to their preoccupations.

Pakistan is pretty much walking in the foot prints of Sri Lanka. But if there is no political discourse between the political rivals to reach some sort of consensus over broader issues, the country would continue to struggle for several years to come.

Awami National Party (ANP) is the latest to announce its boycott of the by-elections saying billion of rupees would be wasted in the election exercise for just three to four months of the assembly.

Both, Mutthaida Qaumi Movement Pakistan and Pakistan Peoples Party announced their position of not to take part in the by-elections respectively in recent weeks.

Earlier, almost all coalition partners were adamant to contest by-elections and Pakistan People Party and MQM had started their campaign, it was PML-N and Maulana Fazlur Rahman who were trying to convince the parties to step away from the by-elections.

The PDM approached PPP leadership to review its decision to contest the by-elections on 64 NA seats, isolating PTI in the field.

The PML-N described contesting by-polls as an exercise in futility.

The PML-N had reportedly requested Mualana Fazulr Rehman to convince Asif Ali Zardari to boycott the by-elections, as PPP was in no mood to step away from the polls.

PPP had conveyed to PDM that it will not contest by-elections only if Awami National Party (ANP) and MQM-P boycott the upcoming polls.

The PPP’s parliamentary board meeting was attended by Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Yousuf Raza Gilani, Farhatullah Babar, Nair Bukhari, Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood and candidates of the by-elections.

The participants of the meeting were divided over the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) proposal.

The meeting decided to boycott the by-polls and let the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) fight against no one. The candidates – who were nominated to contest the polls – were taken into confidence.

The PDM was worried if any of the component parties went ahead and contested the by-polls, the move would badly damage and cracks would appear the ruling coalition.

Although, PML-N is fearing an electoral defeat at this stage, but MQM-P was in no mood of to boycott the by-polls as it was feeling confident that it could retake its seats lost in the 2018 elections to PTI.

A similar case was with PPP – but both the parties decided to withdrawn from the by-polls to keep the PDM intact in an effort to give it a further lease of life.