SUCCESSFUL ELECTIONS IN DIFFICULT TIMES
(Malik Zaeem)
Democracy’s essential element is the people’s freedom to freely express their will through elections. These events transcend basic administrative responsibilities and are the foundation of every government’s legitimacy. Pakistan’s 12th general election took place on February 8, and it was noteworthy because it showed the country’s dedication to the fundamental principles of democracy, such as the assurance of free and fair elections backed by universal, equal, and secret suffrage. Clearly, the fact that these elections took place in the face of economic and security difficulties is historic for the nation of Pakistan. It was paradoxical that certain foreign state groups erroneously and falsely claimed, the day after the elections took place, that few irregularities were reported in the elections and raised apprehension on the peaceful conduction of electoral process.
The Foreign Office expressed on Saturday that it was “surprised” by the critical tone of several remarks made by foreign nations and organizations on the general elections that took place in Pakistan on February 8. The FO said in a statement that it had “taken note” of the remarks. Western capitals expressed alarm about claims of vote-rigging on Friday and questioned the “undue restrictions” imposed during Pakistan’s elections on February 8 while pledging to cooperate with the new government. In their respective statements, the US, the UK, and the EU urged the Pakistani authorities to guarantee a prompt and thorough examination of all the alleged anomalies in Thursday’s elections.
The foreign office of Pakistan has debunked such myths proposed by few quarters, as these concerns were posed without introspecting the current ongoing ground realities. The negative tone of some of these statements astonished both the state and the populace since they failed to recognize the millions of Pakistanis who exercised their right to vote freely and enthusiastically, nor did they take into consideration the intricacies of the electoral process. They must understand that this momentous occasion not only illustrates the strength and endurance of Pakistan’s democratic processes, but also the persistent resolve of the Pakistani people. The enthusiasm and involvement of Pakistanis has been the cornerstone of this democratic endeavor. An overwhelming public commitment to shaping the future of the country was demonstrated by the high voter turnout. Their unwavering commitment to their duties has played a significant role in the elections running smoothly.
Statements like this “ignore” the fact that Pakistan staged successful and peaceful elections while reducing “serious security threats resulting primarily from foreign-sponsored terrorism”. The Foreign Office went on to say that these claims were untrue because, on election day, there was no national internet outage and just a suspension of mobile services in response to terror concerns. Terrorist groups attempted to undermine national security before the election day by carrying out their regular horrific act of bombing Pakistan’s peripheral regions. Additionally, there were a number of security risks, of which the security authorities were fully aware. The internet service was temporarily suspended in the greatest interest of the public, per the interior ministry’s directive. It is one of the timely measures which helped in the smooth process of elections without any major unfortunate event. The internet and mobile service resumed the next day. Nonetheless, a small number of inimical elements acting on behalf of foreign powers attempted to spread misleading information about election manipulation. The purpose of these propaganda pieces is to undermine the stability and efficiency of the election process. The majority seats secured by independent candidates support the claim that the elections were impartial and representative of the electorate.
Pakistan’s military forces were crucial to the peaceful conduct of the nation’s general elections, which were intended to fortify the nation’s political structure and assist its citizens in realizing their democratic dreams. At over 6,000 of the most important voting locations, 137,000 army personnel, civil defense units, and more than 7800 Quick Response units were stationed to ensure a safe and secure atmosphere for the populace. There were over fifty militant events in an attempt to sabotage the electoral process, with the majority occurring in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. With perseverance, the Pakistani military surmounted these challenges and successfully maintained peace and order across the country. Rapid thinking and proactive intelligence operations eliminated a number of potential threats, proving our security agencies’ unshakable commitment to protecting the democratic rights of our citizens.
The electoral exercise has shown that many international analysts’ worries were unfounded. Pakistan conducted the elections as part of its goal to create a society that is both democratic and stable. Additionally, the Foreign Office has insisted that Pakistan will keep pursuing the establishment of a dynamic democratic government. This is being done because it is our people’s goal and our founding fathers’ vision, not because of the objections voiced by others.
Comments are closed.