AS PTI is now in a position to form its Government in Gilgit-Baltistan because of its numerical edge over other parties, the opposition has forthrightly rejected the result of the recent polls harping on the same old mantra of rigging. PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday levelled a host of allegations regarding irregularities in Gilgit-Baltistan’s elections, saying his party will use all its legal options against the “open and naked rigging” in the polls. Similarly, PML(N) leaders including Maryam Nawaz and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi have also talked about pre-poll rigging and buying/purchasing of votes.
There are all indications that the opposition alliance – Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) – would make it a hot issue during protest agitation, which is already centred on ‘Give respect to Vote’. Former President Asif Ali Zardari and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reportedly had lengthy telephonic conversation on the issue of ‘rigging’ and discussed the strategy to be adopted by the two parties, which lost the elections, as well as PDM. It is tragic that allegations of rigging made most of the elections in Pakistan controversial, depriving the winner of the true legitimacy to govern the country with ease and peace of mind. All opposition parties have been in the habit of levelling such allegations as in the past it was PTI which hurled accusations of stealing of elections by PML(N) and now PDM is repeating the same allegations. There are proper forums for redressal of election-related grievances but instead of pursuing the legal recourse the tendency has been to raise hue and cry through the media. Allegations of rigging without evidence carry no weight and in case there are loopholes in the system/process these should be removed through electoral reforms. The pointing of fingers emphasizes once again the need for concrete movement on the issue of electoral reforms as the country cannot afford another tainted election.
