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Political Issues Ahead of Pakistan Elections

Mehroz Sadruddin February 16, 2008

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#6 Posted by raheel07 on February 17, 2008 11:16:05 pm
I feel the same. The issues of masses have never been taken seriously. I also feel democracy is perfect for a nation where people are educated or at least aware. We need a tailored democracy which will make road for the real democracy.
-Raheel Lakhani
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#5 Posted by ijaz_gul on February 17, 2008 9:17:43 pm
yes thats what it is. Just like some poet said on geo yesterday. A person is just worth a vote.
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#4 Posted by hamidm2 on February 17, 2008 10:13:16 am
Re: # 2

ijaz gul,

...... if the ppp comes out with the most seats in the national assembly, enought to lead a government with either pml-q or pml-n, there will be no violence ..... pml-n guys might set fire to a couple of busses in lahore but that will be it ........ if ppp does not emerge as the #1 party, there will be lots of violence in sindh ....... but that too will die down as soon as musharraf slaps down pervez elahi and offers the pm-ship to amin fahim ......

........ i think we will be just fine with less than a 100 dead on election day ...... that would be par for the course
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#3 Posted by mehrozsiraj731 on February 17, 2008 9:40:28 am
The thing actually is that the agendas and the results of the elections have already been decided. This was amply proven at the time when the Human Rights Watch unraveled evidence suggesting that Attorney General Malik Qayyum already had first hand knowledge of election rigging.

The issues taken up in the report were highly technical issues and speaking as an honest reporter, it was not an easy task toning down the language and contents, after talking to tens of people that included journalists, lawyers and university teachers.

Any criticism how so ever would be taken up with a big heart.

Coming to the issue of voting, there is another question. When will we as a nation grow and not be fooled by what we get to see?? When would we as a country get out of the world of simulacra?

In order to challenge the realities and the system based on those realities, we first need to understand that how does the system work. Talking about Pakistan, its imminently well known today that decisions amounting to great political importance in Pakistan, are taken in places like Dubai, Ryadh and Washington. Therefore, when the Arabs and Uncle Sam have decided upon how would next government arise and who would be there, these votes are a mere public exercise have no political significance. I am not discouraging the people to go out and vote, after all the ballot boxes still have the capacity to unite the nation against a dictatorship and bring long lasting social changes in the country.

But then again, to change the system, you have to be in the system and to be in the system, you need high levels of public literacy and commitment towards fair accountability, freedom of judiciary and the freedom of the media. Pakistan at the moment, has unfortunately none. Our social notions are indeed based upon our illiteracy!!!


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#2 Posted by ijaz_gul on February 17, 2008 7:00:47 am
The boil was Benazir's death. If the public did not react to the shady Scotland Yard Report, it never will. The civil society march was just a mirage and no political party sustained it. Pakistan will be bavk to old ways soon, though I do not rule aout some post election violence.
Pathetic but true.
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#1 Posted by ahmedmadani on February 17, 2008 3:53:20 am
Very negative attitude from start to finish. We do not need enemies with such writers, it is sad to think what he is suggesting is herbinger of coming negative things. He almost wishes the election should be fraud, and he may get what one wishes. This all distillation of his -ve imagination and emotions. This fault of management to contribute -ve articles on eve of elections. Specially when just few days ago YLH published "balanced article" about elections. The enemies of president are out with knives, all pakistanis beware this is dangerous night night of evil doers.
Everybody should go out and vote. Those who do not vote has no right to complain afterwards. In forn white countries like usa, england, france, west europe etc countries 90 to 95% people vote and we have hardly 50 to 60% is bad attitude not to vote then whine.
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Interact Index

    #6 raheel07
    #5 ijaz_gul
    #4 hamidm2
    #3 mehrozsiraj731
    #2 ijaz_gul
    #1 ahmedmadani

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