http://www.elections.com.pk/
http://www.electionguide.org/election.php?ID=1368
Background
The run-up to the Feb 18th elections to the national parliament and the provincial assemblies has been marred by several controversies, including President Musharraf's dismissal of over half the country's top judges. He did that to secure his own re-election from a lame-duck parliament and to forestall any challenges to its legality. Earlier former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in a gun and bomb attack on 27 Dec 2007 and the government postponed the elections from 8 January to 18 February, citing as a reason the riots that followed Ms Bhutto's death. With the current turmoil in Pakistan, elections may be the best bet to ward off future trouble. Fair and free elections and a smooth transfer of power will help integrate the fractured nation and help isolate militants from the mainstream.
As elections approach, the north-west is slipping under the influence of Islamic militants, while a lesser insurgency by nationalists threatens peace in Balochistan province, the largest in terms of land and natural resources. With almost every election rally having resulted in bomb blasts and civilian casualties, public enthusiasm for the elections is much dampened.
Position of Political Parties
Main parties in the run include:
Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The governing Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q)
The Jamiat Ulema-I-Islam (JUI-F) of the Islamist cleric, Maulana Fazlur Rahman.
The Karachi-based Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM).
The Awami National Party, a Pashtun nationalist organisation from North West Frontier Province.
The All Parties Democratic Alliance (APDM), a grouping of several opposition parties, has decided to boycott elections.
Musharraf's main allies are PML-Q and MQM. The PML-N, which Mr Musharraf ousted from power in the October 1999 army coup, is his staunch opponent. The PPP has also been critical of Musharraf's government and blames him for Benazir Bhutto’s assassination and for failing to contain militancy. However, it advocates phased withdrawal of the military from political power instead of Musharraf's immediate ouster. The PPP is still willing to work with President Musharraf provided the elections are free and fair.
Subdued campaigning
Security concerns have minimised wider voter mobilisation through processions and public rallies. Huge billboards and party flags seem to be the only indication of elections in the country. The election commission of Pakistan is accused of not enforcing its own directives issued late last year. There are also complaints of interference by district governments in the election process.
Election Monitors
There is worldwide interest in Pakistani elections, and several countries and organisations intend to monitor the vote. Number of observers' missions are already in the country, including one from the European Union.
A network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), affiliations with or funded by non-profit groups and think-tanks based in Europe and the US is also monitoring the pre-poll situation.
Army’s Likely Role
The army under its new chief, Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, is keen to restore its image following the drubbing it received from the public, largely because of Musharraf's controversial role in politics. The army had also been criticised for encroaching onto the civilian domain such as the civil administration, business and industry, banking as well as the real estate sector. In Jan, Gen Kayani announced pull out of hundreds of military officers from civilian positions in the administration, indicating a lesser role for the army in the country's affairs.
On the face of it, the Army is unlikely to overtly support any political party. But behind the scenes most of the military is likely to support Musharraf, if only for the sake of stability which they believe he provides.
The Strength of Islamist parties
The election scene is very different from 2002 when six religious parties representing various groups united to form a permanent alliance called the MMA. This was when the US had just invaded Afghanistan and anti-American sentiment was at its peak. The two major opposition parties, the PPP and PML-N, were leaderless and in disarray with their leaders living in exile.
Both those parties are in the field now. Nawaz Sharif is spearheading the campaign of his PML-N party while the PPP hopes to make the most of a sympathy vote following Ms Bhutto's assassination.
Some MMA components, including Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), are boycotting the elections, whereas JUI-F is contesting the polls despite death threats to its leader, Maulana Fazlur Rahman. The alliance stands practically dissolved.
Post- Elections Power Equation
Most political parties oppose Musharraf because of a set of constitutional amendments he recently made through executive orders. These amendments give him discretionary powers to dismiss governments and assemblies. They also empower him to appoint heads of the armed forces and administrative services. Since Pakistan is a parliamentary democracy in which the president is indirectly elected by the parliament, some fear he may act against a government which in any way upsets the military.
During nine years between 1988-97, successive presidents armed with these powers, and backed by the army, have dismissed four directly elected governments. Irrespective of the election results, the Army is unlikely to give up its hold on power in Pakistan.
http://www.electionguide.org/election.php?ID=1368
Background
The run-up to the Feb 18th elections to the national parliament and the provincial assemblies has been marred by several controversies, including President Musharraf's dismissal of over half the country's top judges. He did that to secure his own re-election from a lame-duck parliament and to forestall any challenges to its legality. Earlier former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in a gun and bomb attack on 27 Dec 2007 and the government postponed the elections from 8 January to 18 February, citing as a reason the riots that followed Ms Bhutto's death. With the current turmoil in Pakistan, elections may be the best bet to ward off future trouble. Fair and free elections and a smooth transfer of power will help integrate the fractured nation and help isolate militants from the mainstream.
As elections approach, the north-west is slipping under the influence of Islamic militants, while a lesser insurgency by nationalists threatens peace in Balochistan province, the largest in terms of land and natural resources. With almost every election rally having resulted in bomb blasts and civilian casualties, public enthusiasm for the elections is much dampened.
Position of Political Parties
Main parties in the run include:
Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The governing Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q)
The Jamiat Ulema-I-Islam (JUI-F) of the Islamist cleric, Maulana Fazlur Rahman.
The Karachi-based Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM).
The Awami National Party, a Pashtun nationalist organisation from North West Frontier Province.
The All Parties Democratic Alliance (APDM), a grouping of several opposition parties, has decided to boycott elections.
Musharraf's main allies are PML-Q and MQM. The PML-N, which Mr Musharraf ousted from power in the October 1999 army coup, is his staunch opponent. The PPP has also been critical of Musharraf's government and blames him for Benazir Bhutto’s assassination and for failing to contain militancy. However, it advocates phased withdrawal of the military from political power instead of Musharraf's immediate ouster. The PPP is still willing to work with President Musharraf provided the elections are free and fair.
Subdued campaigning
Security concerns have minimised wider voter mobilisation through processions and public rallies. Huge billboards and party flags seem to be the only indication of elections in the country. The election commission of Pakistan is accused of not enforcing its own directives issued late last year. There are also complaints of interference by district governments in the election process.
Election Monitors
There is worldwide interest in Pakistani elections, and several countries and organisations intend to monitor the vote. Number of observers' missions are already in the country, including one from the European Union.
A network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), affiliations with or funded by non-profit groups and think-tanks based in Europe and the US is also monitoring the pre-poll situation.
Army’s Likely Role
The army under its new chief, Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, is keen to restore its image following the drubbing it received from the public, largely because of Musharraf's controversial role in politics. The army had also been criticised for encroaching onto the civilian domain such as the civil administration, business and industry, banking as well as the real estate sector. In Jan, Gen Kayani announced pull out of hundreds of military officers from civilian positions in the administration, indicating a lesser role for the army in the country's affairs.
On the face of it, the Army is unlikely to overtly support any political party. But behind the scenes most of the military is likely to support Musharraf, if only for the sake of stability which they believe he provides.
The Strength of Islamist parties
The election scene is very different from 2002 when six religious parties representing various groups united to form a permanent alliance called the MMA. This was when the US had just invaded Afghanistan and anti-American sentiment was at its peak. The two major opposition parties, the PPP and PML-N, were leaderless and in disarray with their leaders living in exile.
Both those parties are in the field now. Nawaz Sharif is spearheading the campaign of his PML-N party while the PPP hopes to make the most of a sympathy vote following Ms Bhutto's assassination.
Some MMA components, including Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), are boycotting the elections, whereas JUI-F is contesting the polls despite death threats to its leader, Maulana Fazlur Rahman. The alliance stands practically dissolved.
Post- Elections Power Equation
Most political parties oppose Musharraf because of a set of constitutional amendments he recently made through executive orders. These amendments give him discretionary powers to dismiss governments and assemblies. They also empower him to appoint heads of the armed forces and administrative services. Since Pakistan is a parliamentary democracy in which the president is indirectly elected by the parliament, some fear he may act against a government which in any way upsets the military.
During nine years between 1988-97, successive presidents armed with these powers, and backed by the army, have dismissed four directly elected governments. Irrespective of the election results, the Army is unlikely to give up its hold on power in Pakistan.
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