Positive Politics

By Vandana K. Mittal - Meri News - India
Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Pakistan at crossroads

The results of the Pakistani elections are pouring in and it is no good news for Musharraf. In fact, the writing is on the wall for the ‘General Sahib’. At the time of writing, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the party that has been synonymous with the Bhutto family, is leading, followed by Nawaz Sharif’s party. It is not clear at the moment whether any party will get a clear majority and be able to form a government without having to go in for power-sharing.

Whichever way political moves are made from here on, one thing is clear - the spirit of democracy is certainly alive and kicking. Their leaders, both the uniformed and the elected kind may have repeatedly let their people down but they have not been able to shake the belief in democracy of Pakistan’s man on the street.

The world may love to paint the whole of Pakistan as a land perpetually in a crisis, where gun-toting tribal warlords and hate-spewing mullahs hold sway, but this election has forced the world to reconsider its verdict.

It has to figure in the vast, educated, middle class and upper class while judging Pakistan, from here on. Apart from these two classes of people, the world will have to appreciate the determination of Pakistan’s poor, rural populace. Braving possible suicide attacks, they turned out in large numbers to cast their vote.

The goals and wish lists of the said two classes may differ but they both want the right to choose. The ordinary man on the street wants food, shelter and security in addition to medical and educational facilities; the privileged sections want freedom of speech; they want their arts and music safeguarded and a less-strident version of Islam practised.

Many Pakistanis are left confused by the militant version of Islam that seems to have taken root in many parts of the country.

What they are probably more comfortable with is the all-embracing, forgiving and holistic version that prevailed earlier. After all, this is the land where Sufism flourished and still inspires its music, art and poetry.

This election may turn out to be a milestone in the history of Pakistan. The only fear is that political expediency and the desire to retain personal power and wealth may compel the politicians to go in for power-sharing, which may reduce any future government to the status of a puppet.

Also the shadow of Musharraf looms large over them. He may have hung up his uniform but may find it difficult to give up or share power after having enjoyed absolute power for eight years. What role the army chooses to play in the current scenario is another X factor.

With our neighbour at a crossroads, we in India can only hope that Pakistan is allowed to choose its leaders, heralding a new era where a new generation is allowed to engage in positive politics.