Newspapers
have given extensive coverage this week to the manifesto launch
made by Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri, chairman of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek
(PAT). Reportedly Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri has a media team from Europe
at his disposal, to coordinate his election campaign, which was
quite apparent from the professionalism evident from the actual
manifesto launch at the Pearl Continental in Lahore. Dr
Tahir-ul-Qadri is known for his liberal, practical and principled
policies and opinions regarding national political issues, which
is why his party is said to have support from many sections of
society including many sects and minorities. Well having said all
that, the election manifesto launch ceremony did catch many by
surprise, as many commentators have likened the event to those
organised by more apparently secular parties such as the PTI,
Millat Party or the PPPP.
The ceremony did project a very positive image of the Pakistan
Awami Tehreek (PAT) as nothing was left to chance with every
minute detail taken into perspective. Colour copies of the
manifesto available in English and Urdu, a short PAT action packed
film shown on a projector with Dr Qadri intermingling with
journalists before the start of the program had all the hallmarks
of a manifesto launch of a western political party. Well Dr
Tahir-ul-Qadri should be commended for disconnecting himself from
the woes of Pakistani political culture and tradition by adopting
a western approach which of course is an ideal one.
Elections in western developed democracies are overwhelmingly
dominated by commitments made in each party's manifesto, with
debates and support being 'issue oriented' rather than personality
or party based. PAT's manifesto launch may be a successful attempt
in acting as a yard stick for other parties, but before getting
carried away with such a splendid projection of the PAT manifesto
thanks to the foreign media team, the simple fact is that
elections in Pakistan are not fought over issues and manifestos.
Pakistani elections cannot compare in anyway to elections, say in
Britain, as the parameters are totally different rather
contradictory.
Well rather than acting on the principle of 'Do in Rome as the
Romans do', rising political parties such as PAT, PTI and Millat
party will only be successful if they recognize and accept the
wrong doings of the older parties by taking a firm principled
stand geared towards change. Well senior political commentators
have highly praised PAT's manifesto with varied skepticism on how
such revolutionary social and economic transformations can be
brought about in a country such as Pakistan. PAT's slogan 'Putting
People First' is all good and well but on the basis of 'Never
judge a book by its cover' skeptics will need further persuasion
on part of PAT and its leader, on how PAT is different to the
plunderers of the past who simply exploited the votes of the poor
by promising them everything under the sun. The PTI and PAT are
immune from allegation of corruption as neither party or their
leaders have been in power, thus placing them in the same boat as
those parties who have been in power may be a little unfair.
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About
Writer:
Mr. Jawed Iqbal, is an independent writer and a
political analyst. His articles appear in printed and
electronic media of Pakistan
eMail : JAWEDS_WORLD@HOTMAIL.COM |
Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri of all people
does not need to be reminded of the fact that he is in Lahore and
not London, as his party has always been against the corrupt
political system of Pakistan, working to uproot it. Accepting the
claims of parties like PAT that they have a full proof plan of
taking Pakistan on a road of recovery and prosperity, there seems
to be no guarantee that all of these emerging parties will be a
part of the post-October government, giving them the opportunity
to implement their manifestos. Adding the slight draw back of
virtually every election in the last decade being heavily rigged
meaning that even if these parties have support in the masses as
they claim to do so, they will not be able to gain an iota of
success.
Fearing rigging and the phenomena of pre-poll rigging, opposition
parties including PTI and PAT have seemed to have grasped the idea
of uniting if they stand to have any chance of stopping Musharaf
in his tracks. As yet no opposition alliance has materialised with
daily reports of possible electoral alliances or seats adjustments
being in the pipeline. PAT has preferred to form a grand
opposition alliance including the PPPP and PML(N), with the PTI
reluctant in joining hands with parties it accuses of grand
corruption.
The public have been suffering for decades as successive
governments have failed to provide relief to them, with no end in
site to price hikes, inflation, unemployment, poverty, corruption
and terrorism, the public will surely welcome a new political
leadership. The onus is now upon these new political parties and
their leadership to convey their manifestos and party agendas to
the masses. How that will be possible with many traditional
methods of gaining access to the masses still being banned; no
sign of the government providing equal air time to each party on
PTV; with laws being prepared on curtailing political opinion on
cable channels, the situation seems to be increasingly desperate
for parties opposed to Musharaf.
This
article published in;
Local Media
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Dr Qadri, This is Pakistan
