Pakistani Elections 2008- What now holds for the future?

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By Majed Iqbal- February 18th 2008 saw Pakistan embarking on its Election Day amidst the chaos, Political unstability, violence, Foreign Interference and heavy handed tactics of the darling of London and Washington, the self styled "President" of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf.



Dubbed as the most crucial and most important Elections in Pakistan and the sixth in the country's fifty one year history, international Media and Western states alongside a "Special" Foreign Election Investigators team sent to observe the whole process, were watching events with close attention as events unfolded minute by minute in this country described as a "volatile" and a "politically unstable" area.

The Election results drew shock and horror raising eyebrows as Musharraf's party Pakistan Muslim League Qauid (PML-Q) barely winning over 30 seats in the 342-seat National Assembly. Asif Zardari's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led the way with the highest number with 113 seats, followed by Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) with 84 seats. Talks were underway immediately between both parties to form a coalition government led by the PPP but were shadowed with key issues of dispute requiring reconciliation.

The PML were adamant on the PPP agreeing to restore deposed judges and invalidate the steps taken by President Musharraf after Nov 3 when a state of emergency was declared as well as discussing the political future of Musharraf, who sidelined them during more than eight years of his rule, forcing the heads of both parties out of the country.

"There cannot be any compromise on these issues" said sources close to Mr. Sharif.

Facing the facts of his parties defeat, Musharraf was quick to state "any clash between himself and the next prime minister would undermine democracy....the clash will be if the prime minister and president will be trying to get rid of each other. I only hope we avoid these clashes."

This was followed up by a key comment given to the Wall Street Journal indicating Musharraf's future plans where he said he "did not plan to step down".

He further added "I want to help end internecine battles between presidents and prime ministers that have marred country's political history and precipitated military interference in the government"

Despite a disastrous year of dynamic events witnessing the sacking of the chief justice drawing thousands of lawyers on the streets in protest, the Lal Mosque Showdown which saw hundreds murdered in cold blood, Army operations in Waziristan and Swat that have spawned an internal crisis in the country and recent spiraling prices and lack of basic necessities like Flour and sugar; such events have weighed next to nothing in value for Musharraf as he enthusiastically resumes in his endeavors to tailor the countries politics to the dictates of Washington and London.

Musharraf's vision for Pakistan was backed by the American President, George Bush who commented on the election outcome in light of Americas drivel on the "War on Terror"

"There was a victory for the people of Pakistan and there were elections held that have been judged as being fair. I view it as a part of the victory in the war on terror....I appreciate the fact that Musharraf has done exactly that which he said he was going to do. He said he'd hold elections, he said he would get rid of his emergency law........the question then is, will they (new government) be friends of the U.S., and I certainly hope so."

Despite such comments from Washington, the Election results have posed a dilemma for the United States who has used Pakistan as a front line state is the "War on Terror" spending roughly $1 billion a year since 2002 on Pakistan to pay for its counterterrorism efforts through its oft described "indispensable ally", Pervez Musharraf.

Since 1999, the US only had to deal with one single figure in Islamabad, especially on their key concern in Pakistan: counterterrorism. But now it must navigate a considerably more complex political landscape. Comments aired by Asif Zardari, who has already stated that he wants to see "less military action and more dialogue with homegrown radical Islamists in the tribal areas" would have already got officials from Capitol Hill scratching their heads.

Whilst the Elections attracted only a dismal 30% of the population to vote highlighting a clear apathy in Pakistani Democracy coupled with failure of all the parties to "deliver the goods", both past and present, foreign nations like America have only showed concern in securing Musharraf as President to resume its work in the region and counter-act any change which departs from their agenda.

It is indeed these very conditions created in Pakistan by leaders who embark on fulfilling foreign agendas that the average person in the country sincerely does not believe with any conviction that the new election winners will be any different to Musharraf; all of whom who have towed to American directives in their previous governments, both directly and indirectly.

The millions of unheard voices in Pakistan in these elections demand a radical departure from this very democratic system which has been the cause of unstability, economic regression, constitutional crisis, corruption, rising prices, thug rule, Machiavellian politics and conditions fostered which has nearly bought the country to civil war.

Elections have miserably failed to prove anything. What has been demonstrated is more deepened disputes between ruling factions, a continuation of service for outside powers, and no real process to hear what really matters to the common man in Pakistan.

Changing the colours of the deck chairs on the Titanic is not exactly going to stop the ship from sinking. Who then says cosmetics like elections and a change of face and name will help Pakistan?