Elections a rare bright spot for ailing Pakistan

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Despite worsening security, a moribund economy, and national crises in food and power, Pakistan's parliament has - for the first time in the country's 66-year history - completed a full term. Parliament will be officially dissolved on Saturday before elections in early May. Yasmeen Rehman, a representative of the ruling Pakistan People's Party, told a near-empty parliament on its final sitting day: ''I pray that Allah gives us success and that democracy should continue and the next parliament should also complete its term.'' Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has not yet announced an election date, though May 8, 9 or 10 is expected. Advertisement Nor has a caretaker administration, which should be running the country within days, yet been named. Though wholly procedural in nature, the dissolution of the national assembly and transition to an election is a milestone for Pakistan, where the military has seized power three times in coups and ruled for around half the country's existence. ''If the elections are held, as expected, in early May, and there is a transition to a new government, if there is political continuity from one government to another, that will be a great achievement for Pakistan given the country's troubled political history,'' political analyst Hasan Askari Rizvi said. He said peaceful elections, too, would be a defeat for insurgent forces, which still wreak havoc across the country, particularly in the north-west. ''Pakistan is facing terrorism, but if these elections can be held peacefully, it is a defeat for terrorism and shows Pakistan is able to pursue a democratic path. If elections are not held, it will show that Pakistan is hostage to terrorism.'' Most are predicting the election will be fought between Pakistan's two major parties, the Pakistan People's Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (N), led by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. But neither party is forecast to win a majority and will need to bring smaller parties into the government to take power. Former cricketer Imran Khan, who has predicted a ''tsunami'' of support for his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice), is expected to run third, and could have a hand in forming a coalition. The PPP released its manifesto this week, promising to increase wages and improve welfare payments and healthcare for the poor. But the party's five years in government have been dominated by corruption scandals, the Supreme Court's sacking of prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, who was succeeded by Raja Pervez Ashraf, and an inability to arrest the rise in food prices, contain terrorism or end chronic power shortages. The Muslim League (N) has made similar election pledges, particularly around wages and energy, but also wants to provide a house to every family through public-private partnership.