Pakistan Gearing Up For General Election Early Next Year

Islamabad, Dec 3, IRNA - Political atmosphere in Pakistan is heating up as all political parties have launched their election campaigns across the country after the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has assured that there is no chance of delay in general election. Leaders of major political parties are visiting rural areas of Pakistan to win the sympathies of the people. All opposition parties are criticizing the policies of the government, saying it has failed to deliver, while on the other hand the ruling party and its allies are confident to win the next general election with heavy majority. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has formally informed the government that preparations for the general elections have been completed. In a bid to woo the disgruntled coalition partners of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in Sindh province, President Asif Zardari has constituted a committee led by former premier Yousaf Raza Gilani. The president during party’s core committee meeting advised party leaders to contact each and every political force and get their cooperation as the PPP believed in strengthening democracy. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President, Nawaz Sharif has said that he sees no justification of postponing elections; therefore, creating doubts and uncertainty in this regard is not proper. Nawaz Sharif said that in case of being elected as a prime minister in next elections, he will not feel any problem in working relationship during the remaining period of president-ship of Asif Ali Zardari. The PML-N leader said the government had miserably failed to resolve the people’s problems due to their wrong policies and serving self interests instead of those of the nation. Former Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmed has said that neither Muthida Majlis-e-Ammal (MMA), a religious electoral alliance, has not been restored nor JI has demanded of the 50 percent seats during the forthcoming elections for restoration of the party. In another major development the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and the Pakistan Sunni Ittehad Council have joined hands and agreed on seat adjustment in the upcoming elections. Meanwhile the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb has registered a new political party to contest general elections for the first time. Many Pakistanis regard Abdul Qadeer Khan, as a hero for building the atomic bomb. In July, he set up Tehreek-e-Tahafuzz Pakistan or Save Pakistan Movement (SPM) to contest the 2013 elections. The chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, Munawar Hassan has said that they would give the nation a surprise in the coming election, as the stereotype selfish politicians have given masses nothing but terrorism, extortion and lawlessness. He said only honest and committed people could change the fate of Pakistan, adding, a reform had become inevitable to change the present circumstances. He noted that the JI had the potential to change the fate of nation and country and in this all options of political alliance had been kept open. Syed Munawar Hasan has also asked the government to immediately announce the date for general elections in order to remove doubts about this national constitutional exercise. Disclosing his party’s election strategy, Nawaz Sharif said that his party would not be contesting the general elections alone. He added that the prospect of alliances between the PML-N, PML-F, PML-Likeminded and Jamat-e-Islami were bright. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) a major opposition party has said that soldiers should be deployed inside polling stations in sensitive areas to ensure transparency in the upcoming general elections. Earlier, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League -Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) have agreed to field joint candidates to contest the coming elections. By the end of the year, the PPP setup would have to announce the polls’ schedule in keeping with the electoral road map. And if the political parties themselves could not hammer out an agreement over the formation of a caretaker setup, the matter should be left for the Election Commission to decide as stipulated in the constitution./end