Democracy braves 25 May
OPPOSITION staged long march on 25 May to get election date. Baluchistan CM survived Vote of No-confidence.
It shows Pakistan’s democracy can face challenges. The timely actions of Judiciary and Establishment show democratic institutions are also delivering.
Democracy and democratic institutions are on right track and they will get stronger with time.
Social media is also keeping a strong check on media and power corridors. The jury is still out on government’s contempt application against Imran Khan because Chief Justice said that the detailed judgment would set “an example for the future”.
The Government also showed sportsman spirit during the long march.
Maybe protestors are still better off in Pakistan as compared to UK where Patel has new draconian Public Order Bill against demonstrators.
In US, Biden also took two years to sign Police Reforms Act after George Floyd’s death to increase police accountability and improve public trust in it.
PM told Opposition that dictation would not work. This house will decide when to hold elections.
PM said that doors for talks were always open to decide the election date, which is democracy at its best.
Opposition should accept the offer and decide election date in public interest instead of going for the second long march.
It will lower the temperature. The Government is headed to register cases against the PTI leadership which will undermine democracy and freedom.
Political parties should voluntarily pay for the damages, hand over their workers and leaders who are responsible for the loss of innocent lives including Daska by-election to end culture of death and destruction in politics.
There is no leaderless mob. ECP should make political parties accountable to avoid such fallout in future.
Government has enacted NAB reforms instead of scrapping it. Many politicians including Ex-PM Abbasi strongly opposed NAB but it appears that culture of political victimization will continue instead of rule of law.
There is strong anti-corruption infrastructure at district level. Government can enact judicial reforms and 120,000 more courts to fight crime and corruption. More courts will increase revenue, jobs and fight corruption, crime and help reduce police.
The Elections Amendment Bill 2022 seeks to remove EVM in general elections and disallow Overseas Pakistanis from voting.
The revival of the Elections Act, 2017 will help free, fair and transparent elections. Under Protecting American Votes and Elections Act 2019, America adopted paper ballot to secure the vote.
Counting of vote (paper ballot) in front of public saved democracy in 2020 presidential elections after Trump refused to accept the results.
Government has increased fuel prices to resume IMF deal. Financial support will allow government to take tough decision but it will like to delay elections to dilute public backlash.
Bilawal has already said that $6bn IMF deal is outdated. Pakistan would have gotten good deal from IMF if Opposition did not use long march to get election date.
Opposition can return to Parliament and play its role to hold local body elections in the country to strengthen third tier of democracy.
PTI Chairman has rejected increase in oil prices. Opposition demanded to purchase the oil from Russia. If India can buy Russian oil why cannot Pakistan.
Both government and Opposition are blaming each other for IMF deal instead of opening trade in the region including Iran.
We should end all subsidies and follow successful examples of targeted relief like $30bn US subsidy to farmers who are only paid difference in domestic and international price (US Homestead Law, Marshall Plan agriculture, Agriculture banks).
Pakistan can cut its 90% imports (Food $5bn, cotton $43bn, agri & other chemicals $8.3bn, iron & steel $3.9bn).
We should cut sugar plantations by 70% to recover the land in cotton and wheat belts to reduce their imports and let small farmers make brown sugar to end diabetes.
Make our own iron and steel. It will improve our food and water security and bring down exchange rate to Rs140 than 180 (Fin Min Ismail).
Bilawal should use reset of Pakistan’s foreign policy to bring value addition technology so that we can reduce our imports, create jobs and boost our economy.
We can use it in agriculture sector (wheat, rice, poultry, dairy and meat) to improve our food security.
The packaging and preservation of these items at village level (SME) will create jobs; improve income of small farmers (80% of landowners) and lower prices for public.
Small village dams will protect our water security. It is a good decision to take legal action against CM KP.
Interior Minister said that CM used his position unconstitutionally by attacking the federation and he participated in long march with armed police officers.
Action will be taken in the light of legal opinion obtained by Law Ministry. Government servants who acted as facilitators will also be brought to book (ESTA Code).
It will protect officers from political victimization, depoliticize bureaucracy and stop party heads from using government resources.
—The writer is senior political analyst based in Islamabad.
