Yesterday I received a casual call from a very old mate of mine who belongs to an influential family of the Baluchistan Province of Pakistan. He is currently settled at Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan, well linked to all the political, social and business segments of the province having an insight into their thinking processes while he is also a high ranking government official. He only concurred with my diagnosis of the Baluchistan situation which has a pivotal effect on the Pakistani economic and security situation influencing the complete region. There is confirmed positive vibe amongst the people of the resources rich province troubled by the foreign sponsored militant insurgency and inept governance issues. The decision of almost all political parties and self exiled leaders to take part in the upcoming general election is the hope most of these peace starved population are banking upon. In a major blow to the Indian sponsored Baluch insurgency , the Baluchistan National Party, the mother outfit of many potent separatist elements have decided to take part in the upcoming general election showing confidence in the state system of Pakistan. All the national power blocks and population of Pakistan in general and Baluchistan in particular have welcomed this move of the nationalist party with open arms. The Chief Election Commissioner made his way to Quetta and met the leaders of all the political parties affirming the Election Commission's commitment to holding a free and fair poll leaving a highly explicit message of healthy change in the overall geopolitical situation of the country.
This whole scenario is desperately unpleasant to the opponents of the Pakistani State and those willing to stop the Pakistani recent foreign policy initiatives with regards to China and Iran which focuses on the province of Baluchistan as a gateway to peace and prosperity for the entire country. The plans to sabotage the general elections through their client mercenary outfits in and around Pakistan is in top gear. This presents an undeniable challenge to the Pakistani State system which will prove to be a litmus test of its effectiveness and credibility in the face of all the odds. The mere fact that the Pakistani people are willing for this positive change in the country strengthens the capability of the Pakistani State which is under direct hostile terrorist attacks for almost a decade now. Ironically, the punishment absorbing capacity of the Pakistani population and state apparatus, proven so far after a decade of bloodshed is the key factor providing hope and credence for the success of the upcoming polls in the country.
The Pakistani Military's decision to distance itself from their ex Chief, Pervaiz Musharraf on his return to the country after 5 years self exile to take part in the general elections is a move might not be comprehend able to some foreign observers but is more than popular with the people of Pakistan, specially in the province of Baluchistan. For the first time in the history of Pakistan a democratically elected civilian government has completed its tenure thanks to the shrewd political wisdom of President Asif Ali Zardari backed by the unflinching support rendered to him by the Army Chief of Pakistan, General Ashfaq Kiani. The tenure of the civilian elected government though is a story of endless corruption and inefficient governance, at the most, but the filtration process offered by the general elections is the only way forward for Pakistan to bring a responsible and fair government, if not in total than in majority comprising of able and honest leaders with the auspices of the general public.
The Elections or Democratic form of government is not the absolute answer to the Pakistani quagmire it is confirmed, however, the participation of various segments of the particular blend of Pakistani democratic system based on tribes allegiances , kinsman ship and economic interest groups answers the call for consensus based governance promoting peace and stability in the country. Even the religious parties, fundamental in their makeups get a chance to participate in the governance leaving less chances of terrorism to thrive on political agendas. The system also makes the various segments of the Pakistani society, even the remote tribal lands accountable for their deeds through their elected representatives. This is exactly why the Pakistani Taliban s view the upcoming elections as a threat to their dominance in the tribal region thriving upon chaos and lawlessness in leaderless terrain. The result is an all out effort by the Pakistani Taliban s to disrupt the electoral process by targeting almost all the political parties with specific threat to those with moderate agendas. The Pakistani politicians not only understands this threat but hats off to the likes of Mr Mian Iftikhar, the ex information minister of the Khyber Pakhtonkhwa (north west) province who even after loosing his only son to the terrorists is still standing up in the face of naked terror like many others to make the Elections a success.Those of the general public who lost their near and dear ones in the terror attack of the Pakistani Taliban s also stand affirmed in their commitment to the particular democratic system of Pakistan providing strength and fortitude to the federation of this strategically located Nation on the globe. The foreign and domestic wave of terror unleashed upon Pakistan goes on and on, but they still fail to achieve their nefarious designs in a country on whose soil, the majority of natives believes, "death as only the beginning of the real life".
This whole scenario is desperately unpleasant to the opponents of the Pakistani State and those willing to stop the Pakistani recent foreign policy initiatives with regards to China and Iran which focuses on the province of Baluchistan as a gateway to peace and prosperity for the entire country. The plans to sabotage the general elections through their client mercenary outfits in and around Pakistan is in top gear. This presents an undeniable challenge to the Pakistani State system which will prove to be a litmus test of its effectiveness and credibility in the face of all the odds. The mere fact that the Pakistani people are willing for this positive change in the country strengthens the capability of the Pakistani State which is under direct hostile terrorist attacks for almost a decade now. Ironically, the punishment absorbing capacity of the Pakistani population and state apparatus, proven so far after a decade of bloodshed is the key factor providing hope and credence for the success of the upcoming polls in the country.
The Pakistani Military's decision to distance itself from their ex Chief, Pervaiz Musharraf on his return to the country after 5 years self exile to take part in the general elections is a move might not be comprehend able to some foreign observers but is more than popular with the people of Pakistan, specially in the province of Baluchistan. For the first time in the history of Pakistan a democratically elected civilian government has completed its tenure thanks to the shrewd political wisdom of President Asif Ali Zardari backed by the unflinching support rendered to him by the Army Chief of Pakistan, General Ashfaq Kiani. The tenure of the civilian elected government though is a story of endless corruption and inefficient governance, at the most, but the filtration process offered by the general elections is the only way forward for Pakistan to bring a responsible and fair government, if not in total than in majority comprising of able and honest leaders with the auspices of the general public.
The Elections or Democratic form of government is not the absolute answer to the Pakistani quagmire it is confirmed, however, the participation of various segments of the particular blend of Pakistani democratic system based on tribes allegiances , kinsman ship and economic interest groups answers the call for consensus based governance promoting peace and stability in the country. Even the religious parties, fundamental in their makeups get a chance to participate in the governance leaving less chances of terrorism to thrive on political agendas. The system also makes the various segments of the Pakistani society, even the remote tribal lands accountable for their deeds through their elected representatives. This is exactly why the Pakistani Taliban s view the upcoming elections as a threat to their dominance in the tribal region thriving upon chaos and lawlessness in leaderless terrain. The result is an all out effort by the Pakistani Taliban s to disrupt the electoral process by targeting almost all the political parties with specific threat to those with moderate agendas. The Pakistani politicians not only understands this threat but hats off to the likes of Mr Mian Iftikhar, the ex information minister of the Khyber Pakhtonkhwa (north west) province who even after loosing his only son to the terrorists is still standing up in the face of naked terror like many others to make the Elections a success.Those of the general public who lost their near and dear ones in the terror attack of the Pakistani Taliban s also stand affirmed in their commitment to the particular democratic system of Pakistan providing strength and fortitude to the federation of this strategically located Nation on the globe. The foreign and domestic wave of terror unleashed upon Pakistan goes on and on, but they still fail to achieve their nefarious designs in a country on whose soil, the majority of natives believes, "death as only the beginning of the real life".
