Countries seeking the establishment of democracy are often steeped in political turmoil and social unrest, making it impossible to ensure free and fair elections as defined by international standards. The two main stipulations for free and fair elections are universal and equitable suffrage and voting by secret ballot. The former requires the ability of all eligible citizens to engage in public discourse without persecution. It also requires the assurance of personal safety when traveling to polling stations. On both of these points, Pakistan’s political environment already raised eyebrows in the international community prior to the death of political leader Benazir Bhutto. The doubt behind the feasibility of free and fair elections in Pakistan is deepening as the political and social aftermath of Benazir Bhutto’s death takes its toll on the nation.

     Prior to Bhutto’s death, Human Rights Watch (HRW) had already declared that democratic elections in Pakistan were impossible due to the policies of President Pervez Musharraf. The increasing opposition to Musharraf’s regime has been accompanied by the increase of regulations on media broadcasts and the arrests of hundreds of opposition leaders.  Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, after declaring Musharraf’s November declaration of a state of emergency as illegal, has been dismissed and placed under house arrest along with 7 other justices. All have been replaced by Musharraf-supporters.  
    The death of Benazir Bhutto, former leader of the Pakistani People’s Party, has increased difficulties even further. As chaotic riots took the streets of Pakistan in the aftermath of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, the lack of safety and the destruction of infrastructure are to be added to the list of flaws in the election environment. With the increase of circumstantial evidence, accusations of conspiracy against President Musharraf are gaining ground in public opinion, adding to the tension.
     The political table is now heavily tilted in favor of the Pakistani People’s Party (formerly led by Benazir Bhutto) and the Pakistani Muslim League Nawaz Group (led by previously-exiled Nawaz Sharif). When the Pakistani Elections Commision announced this month that elections have been rescheduled to February 18th, both the PPP and PML-N accused President Musharraf of rescheduling the elections due to strategic rather than technical concerns. Latif Khosa, an aide to Benazir Bhutto, said the former prime minister was on the verge of revealing to the press a 160-page report documenting evidence against President Musharraf for vote-rigging in the upcoming elections. Both parties are urging the government to continue the elections as planned on January 8th.
      Holding elections in Pakistan within a week-and-half of a major political assassination may seem absurd. Despite the accusations against President Musharraf, the fact remains that some logistical damage has been done. The provincial governments of Punjab and Sindh have both voiced opposition to holding the elections on January 8th as 12 polling stations have been burned to the ground in Sindh, and the printing of election ballots has been disrupted across the country. Though riots have died down in many areas, there is still considerable tension below the surface.
      Nonetheless, the point of a government structure is to provide a stable process that is not completely at the whim of the politicians that populate the structure. There is a high possibility that Musharraf’s reasons for postponing the elections are not sound, and that the logistical issues cited by the elections commission can be circumvented if an effort is made by Musharraf’s government to do so. Corrupt politicians and political scandals are not new to national politics in any country. To calm political tensions and to establish the legitimacy of an election process, the elections scheduled for January 8th should not be thwarted by the current regime.  No amount of delay or continued rule by President Musharraf will result in adequately free and fair elections, but the establishment of a politically independent election process can reverse the excessive influence of the executive branch over the government structure.

Sources:

 “Aide: Bhutto Had Proof of Vote-Rigging in Pakistan.”  Voice of America News, 1 Jan 2008.  http://voanews.com/english/2008-01-01-voa22.cfm

 

“Human Rights Watch warns fair elections impossible in Pakistan.”

International Herald Tribune, 19 Dec 2007. 

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/19/news/Pakistan.ph

 

Khan, Iftikhar.  “Sindh, Punjab govts want poll postponed.” Dawn, 1 Jan 2008.

http://www.dawn.com/2008/01/02/top1.htm

 

Robinson, Simon.  “Pakistan’s State of Emergency.”  Time, 8 Nov 2007.  http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1682292-2,00.html

 

Robinson, Simon. “Pakistan Reschedules Elections.” Time, 1 Jan 2008. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1699194,00.html

 

Rubin, Barnett R.  “Pakistan’s Power Puzzle.”  Informed Comment: Global Affairs, 1 Jan 2008.  http://icga.blogspot.com/2008/01/pakistans-power-puzzle.html