The Judicial Commission has finally given its conclusion that the 2013 elections were fair and in accordance with the law. Some who are against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) would perhaps only see this as an opportunity to mock the 126-day dharna (protest) which apparently for many only benefited one man, DJ Butt.
On the other hand, those in favour of PTI would perhaps see this as another failure of the system to deliver justice and would conclude that the Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk is also incapable of holding a fair inquiry.
This is exactly where we fail time and again that we tend to adopt extreme views and only see things as black and white. That the dharna will only be deemed successful if the assemblies are dissolved, re-elections are called and Imran Khan not only gets to contest again, but also win and becomes prime minister and anything short of that would not suffice. It is more likely than not that even in the mind of Imran that is how he would also rate the dharna to be successful.
Well that is not happening, but I as a Pakistani still feel that all is not lost. The formation of the Judicial Commission is a good precedent for future elections. The right of any party, candidate or citizen to inquire into rigging should be guaranteed and protected and it has been done so. But was it necessary for thousands of citizens to sit on the streets for 126 days in the capital, for the media channels to become obsessed with the same news and choose sides? And was it really necessary for a party to spend millions to get the government to form this commission?
No. It shouldn’t have been so.
Inflexibility of the most moronic kind was exhibited by all stake holders and it only dented the system, disgraced the country, and frustrated the people. In future, leaders should most definitely strive for accountability, transparency, and good practices but not with the aim to benefit their own politics but to benefit the people at large.
The people voted and chose Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the centre. They voted and chose PTI in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). They voted and kept Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in power in Sindh and Karachiites still swing towards Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). One may not like the parties for which people vote and the solution should be to make people more aware of better alternates and ridding them of any undue influence or fear under which they may be voting.
If one does not accept that these parties – however corrupt, ineffective, and violent as they may be – still have mandate of the people then one would continue to cry foul and claim rigging, and would end up exactly where they were 126 days ago.
In future, these 126 days could be spent in understanding the people, their fears, and their aspirations, and serving them accordingly, hoping that they may one day vote for you. And even if they don’t, one should still continue to serve them, after all, they still are your people and countrymen even if they aren’t your voters.
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.
I failed to understand the difference of planned/managed rigging and rigging for understanding of a common man. Report says polls were rigged but not in managed/planned way. This means rigging is allowed and acceptable if not managed/planned. If yes, then is this not a license for rigging. What would the credibility of elections then? Should people vote?
It’s always important to take a back seat, and proof read what you’ve just written. Trust me as I’m a regular cricket blogger.
You just wrote that a party should not ‘have to’ sit in for 126 days to get investigations underway into rigging, yet you’re accusing the same party of inflexibility? You’re terming a formation of a judicial commission as a good precedent, yet dismiss the ‘only’ method that was available to the party to achieve it?
And what inflexibility on part of Imran Khan are you talking about exactly, please enlighten us? He didn’t take the streets 1 day, 1 month or even 1 year after the elections, he waited 14 months, tried every legal and political avenue to get the investigation underway, and then resorted to a non-violent protest. You term this inflexibility?
I’m sorry but just like a multitude of anchors lecturing Imran Khan today, you’ve completely missed the point. The point being:
1- There is ‘no’ flexibility on law and principles
2- There’s always flexibility in politics.
Imran Khan has demonstrated both. The difference between him and Nawaz Sharif couldn’t be starker.
We really don’t accept PAID views. Like yours. Working on behalf of a
“on the skids” Cricketer. The new generations do not know what his claim
to fame is. However, once a politician, like the Cricketer, proposes to
‘negotiate’ with extremists and terrorists than his credibility does not exist.
Negotiate with the killers of 78,000 innocent men, women and children !
The Cricketer went so far as to propose opening an office for these extremists and terrorists in Islamabad. This man is not a politician. He is an anathema.
They have a new name for U Turn Khan…Pandering Khan.
The author of the blog did not miss any points. It is a well written blog. And
ponderous vociferous disjointed meandering pontificating comments, like
YOURS, are expected. Run of mill.
Fascinating excuses for hating a person. Have you considered teaching in a kindergarten? You could really teach a class of 3 y/os how to use their imagination.
Thanks for the compliment. Considering it’s coming from supporter of a “has been”. Also known as
U Turn Khan, Pandering to extremists Khan. Hamara Bhai
Khan. Fell off a Ladder Khan,..er Fell off a stage Khan..?
Wait….Fell off a crane Khan? 26 car entourage Khan?
Looking for Reham’s degree Khan?
There’s only so much breath one can waste arguing with shrill, close-minded Insafians. To you, all I’ll say is that those are not proofing edits, but (supposed) substantive edits that you are pointing out. You have been editing your “regular cricket” blogs all wrong buddy.
Thanks for the feedback. Everyone votes for a reason, even the close-minded Insafians, believe it or not.
The report has helped the corrupt elections and has set a rule that rigging is allowed if not planned or managed.
Jibran, the parties PML-N, MQM, JUI-F, they will alway try to undermine the struggle PTI launched with its 126 days of dharna. It is a battle lost but war won since:
1) The JC was formed only when PTI had entered Islamabad. Try sending that crowd home.
2) The over-whelming participation of people proved that people wanted change and accountability from the top. Now I am sure you would still lose in 2018 for being a liberal but at least you will never blame rigging for it.
3) We can disagree about the path but the aim is same. PTI might have missed the mark in this one but they are still trying. One institution at a time 🙂
4) While I am sure you see this JC report as success, the same judiciary believes Shafqat Hussain guilty. I think you should preach respect of courts instead of making a mockery out of them with your videos.
Peace!
1) No. It was formed on April 2nd this year. The tamasha was over in December last year. By tamasha i mean when your party stormed Parliament, PTV HQ, Cabinet Division, and tried to go to PM House.
2) How many people were in this dharna/tamasha? Take a calculator and divide that number by 200 million, give or take a few million. Whatever that number may be, it aint anywhere near “overwhelming.” And if you think PTI is liberal then God help you.
3) They tried to send the government home. They failed. The JC was a climb down for them, a necessary side show that had to be engaged with, nothing more. What PTI did was treason, plain and simple. 🙂
4) No it doesn’t. Shafqat Hussain’s fate was sealed by his lawyer, not the judiciary, flawed as it may be.
Peace!
If you are still a fan of the whole 126-days-of-foaming-at-the-mouth strategy, then you and other PTI fans are no better than the jiyalas who vote for the Bhuttos despite repeated kicks in the teeth.
The JC was formed when PTI entered Isb? No, the JC was offered right in the start but IK’s hubris didn’t allow him to accept it until his “flood” has turned into a trickle and he was desperately looking for a way out of his pathetic little huddle in front of the parliament.
The overwhelming participation of the people? By which measure? At no point did the number of attendees- bused in from PTI-ruled KPK- exceed 30-35 thousand. People didn’t begin to send remittances via hundi or stop paying their taxes and start disobeying civil laws. Those 200,000 motorbikes and what not that IK promised never materialized. IK’s big failure from the start, everyone agreed, was his inability to actually bring the number of people he had promised his puppet master he’d bring to the capital.
And one institution at a time? Stay tethered to IK’s old ways of politics-via-agitation and only the “ONE institution” will forever rule us.
I am not going to cast my vote in Pakistan. Enjoy your rigged elections, corrupt govt and judges.
Pakistan would be well off without the votes of such narrow-minded, unpatriotic and absurd people. Sir, I salute you.
PTI’s greatest contribution to set a democratic precedence where EC was made to answer irregularities. The Judges though did not come up to public aspirations. This was obvious after Saad Rafique NA125 episode. Judiciary is CORRUPT Period.
So basically, government is corrupt, judiciary is corrupt, and PTI is the sole Godsend in a sea of vice in Pakistan? Really, for all your claims justice, it is absurdly unjust of you to say the judiciary is corrupt without any sane evidence. Crazy.
“Inflexibility of the most moronic kind was exhibited by all stake holders….”
No, it was exhibited by PTI and PAT only. Govt conceded on every point but PM resignation. They were flexible. But PTI wanted nothing less than the fall of the system.
1) 35 punctures, 35 punctures, 35 punctures, 35 punctures…evidence? None.
2) Jinnahpur, Jinnahpur, Jinnahpur, Jinnahpur…evidence? None.
3) Agartala, Agartala, Agartala, Agartala…evidence? None.
4) RAW-TTP, RAW-TTP, RAW-TTP, RAW-TTP…evidence? None.
5) RAW-Balochistan, RAW-Balochistan, RAW-Balochistan, RAW-Balochistan…evidence? None.
6) India stealing water, India stealing water, India stealing water…evidence? None.
7) India flooding Pakistan, India flooding Pakistan…evidence? None.
8) 16 Indian consulates in Afghanistan, 24 Indian consulates in Afghanistan, 32 Indian consulates in Afghanistan…evidence? Only 4.
I can go on and on and on…
It’s very clear that Pakistanis are neither independent thinkers, nor do they use logic and common sense.
This was a foregone conclusion, if anyone expected otherwise must be clearly living on a highly optimistic cloud.
In my view this decision was reminiscent of the famous ‘ doctrine of necessity ‘ which was more a political decision and less a judicial one.
We are a nation of glorious incompetency. And that is what happened in the elections… incompetency in all departments. But the problem is that we want others to do their jobs in a competent manner but never admit our own shortcomings. Charity starts from home, so change yourself first then expect anything from others.
14 crore used for dancing and music …It benefited those who were behind the idea of Dharna,they got what they wanted from Nawaz Shareef….PTI was used only as a shield….
Do you really think this was a judicial decision or a political one ?
Judicial Commission did not use its power to investigate, they also did not want to malign their own, ROs. Based on insufficient evidence the thief is exonerated. Isn’t it all what Pakistan’s Judiciary is impotent. Justice should be bling but not the judge. Judge has a duty to ask the responsible person, why he or she did not discharge duties according to the law. Pakistani at large has become a nation of irresponsible people who simply shrug shoulders and walk away from their responsibility. If there are Form-15 is missing then how the results were compiled. JC assumed that there were Form 15, but they lost afterwards. Would they accept my verbal claim on a land whose documents are lost ? This is exactly what has happened, one party (PML-N) was in possession (Qabza) other party (PTI) claimed it was their property. The impotent judiciary failed to establish that if there was no proof then not just one but both contestants should bar from ownership. This is how in Panjab people break into others property and then in court they come out winning since court could not establish if the documents are not there, someone should get punished and the possessor should prove the ownership to stay in possession.
it is a bad spot in our history that pti tried to present a bad image of pakistan by dishonoring pakistan most fair election.it was for the first time that voter lists were 100% correct. each voter has been listed with his foto and cnic no and an agreed interim gov was set up to maintain impartiality. there was no dispute on polling stations and process was peaceful.more than 300 international observers were visiting polling stations and declared the elections transparent and fair. i am not pmln but want to say this was best election as all gov institutions including establishment stayed neutral. what a national loss as media supported pti and some hidden hands maligned pakistan image. not even a clue of dhandhli could be presented.
IK introduced new culture- bad language and dirty blames which were false
only if IK had good timing… he would have settled in mid september/october when he had the upper hand on the government… he could have dictated the terms rather then being pushed around. He is not a politician after all but in the end it is what is the best and worst thing about him.
Now it’s a proven fact that there is no justice in Pakistan. The JC report on murders of Model Town is still not made public and the PM addresses the nation as soon as he received the 2013 election report. YOU KNOW WHY?
IK is a winner all the way because of his struggles. a common man is now aware of the strength of his vote!