Lately, I have noticed the sudden hike in traffic at my
website, visitors particularly from outside Pakistan exploring various types of
threats and possibility of ‘election engineering’. The highest numbers of
visits are of course from USA followed by China, Russia, Germany and other
European countries.
I have reasons to believe their eagerness because after the
announcement of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), foreign investors are
actively exploring investment potentials in Pakistan. Some of the geopolitical
analysts termed NA-122 election crucial because the PML-N defeat could have
raised serious repercussions for its government.
The ongoing rift among PML-N ministers shows cracks in the
party headed by Mian Nawaz Sharif, creating the history of becoming Prime
minister of Pakistan for the third time. Allegations of corruption are also
being leveled against three of the largest political parties ruling federal and
provincial governments: PML-N, PPP, and
PTI. The worst criticism against PML-N is due to its failure in overcoming
energy crisis.
The matter of the fact is that Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has once
again emerged victorious. Does this prove the allegations of rigging/election engineering
were incorrect? Interestingly it is also being said that Imran Khan suffering
from illusion completely ignored the fact that Ayaz has repeatedly won from
this constituency of National Assembly. Defeating him was not an easy task as
PML-N has to ensure his victory at any cost to prove that it had not stolen the
public mandate.
The outcome of recent elections in some of the
constituencies of National and Provincial Assemblies show that PPP, PTI and
even PML-N face disgruntled voters. While PTI was considered a bankable political
party, its failure in KPK province has certainly disappointed many of its
supporters.
Since 2013 elections were marred by killing of activists of select
political parties, it was feared that the history may also be repeated. Barring
some minor incidents the entire process completed peacefully. The only regret
is that many of the television channels played partisan role and a fruitless
debate is still going on.
Being a third world country, rigging and election engineering
can’t be ruled out in Pakistan. Supporters and fund providers to political
parties play a key role even in the most developed countries. In Pakistan
election process is further marred due to poor literacy and active involvement
of feudal lords and business tycoons.
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