Pakistan: ''Political hiccups notwithstanding''

The Frontier Post

Finally, President Asif Ali Zardari has on Wednesday announced that the general elections to the National Assembly will be held on May 11. The President signed the summary sent by the Prime Minister to this effect immediately it was received in the Presidency, putting an end to political uncertainty prevailing upon the federal capital. Amidst the eye-souring violence and lingering threats of heart-breaking terrorist strikes especially in Karachi, Quetta and KPK, the announcement of the election date and subsequent announcement of the election schedule will induce new impetus to the electioneering in the country. According to the ECP spokesman, the submission of nomination papers will begin on March 25 which will be completed on 30th. Scrutiny of papers shall start from 31st and will continue for 7 days. Candidates may withdraw their nomination papers by April 18 while the final list of the contesting candidates will be published the following day. Earlier on Tuesday, the Election Commission allotted 'lion' as the election symbol to the PML-N, however, allotment of election symbol to the PPP of the President Asif Ali Zardari was deferred owing to a controversy that surfaced when an estranged party leader Naheed Khan, who served as political secretary to slain PPP leader Benazir Bhutto until her assassination in 2007, claimed that she should be allotted the symbol as she is real leader of the PPP. The decision is pending with the ECP. Otherwise, it was smooth sailing; the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam was allotted the symbol of 'book' while Awami National Party was given 'lantern', MQM got the symbol of 'kite' and the fast emerging popular party of cricketer-turned politician, Imran Khan had been allotted 'bat'. On the other hand, on the first day the meeting of the eight-member parliamentary committee formed to break political impasse on the appointment of caretaker prime minister was too adjourned without any success-giving rise to the Opposition's accusation that the rulers are bent on give-and-take rather than paving way for impartial caretaker setup. Blame for the delay does not lie squarely on the rulers; the Opposition as well cannot be absolved of the responsibility. The Opposition too seems to take the issue to the Election Commission of Pakistan for its own 'reasons.' Whatever! The Constitutional mechanism on this matter is going to take its course-- it is just a matter of time; the deadlock over the appointment of the caretaker PM is notwithstanding. Another good omen is; the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly has completed the first phase of the political process, withering another hiccup in holding fresh elections on the same date. Indeed, the stage is all set for the elections which will be monitored by a large number of international and local observers who had already approached the Election Commission of Pakistan which issued a Code of Conduct for the observers, prohibiting any interference in the election process. The history, witnessed never before, is in the making; notwithstanding the political hiccups or differences erupting amongst the political forces out there in the election field. The nation too must grab the opportunity with both hands to elect their true representatives.