By Jamil Ahmed
THREE important and active nationalist parties of Balochistan, including the Pashtun Khwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP), Balochistan National Party (Mengal), and the National Party (NP) are not taking part in next month’s polls. Since their boycott of non-party elections in 1985, this is the first time that these nationalist parties have decided to stay away from general elections.
They are part of the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) which was reconstituted following the decision of the PML-N and the Awami National Party (ANP) to participate in the polls.
The PKMAP and NP announced their boycott purely as an expression of support for the lawyers’ struggle for an independent judiciary. However, the BNP-M cited as its reasons the military operation, the killing of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti and Nawabzada Balach Marri, the arrest of party chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal, and the extra-constitutional incarceration of hundreds of Baloch. The judiciary was also cited as a controversial issue.
The nationalist parties are of the view that there is no possibility of free and fair elections in the absence of an independent judiciary.
According to them, poll participation in the prevailing situation would be tantamount to strengthening the hands of a dictator.
The nationalist parties and JUI-F are the biggest political parties with street power and a vote bank in Balochistan. The PPP and PML-N have their organisational set-ups in the province but do not have the same street power and vote bank as the nationalists and the JUI.
The PML-Q consists only of those who win seats from different areas of Balochistan because of tribal and family influence. Most politicians switch loyalties according to the direction in which the wind is blowing. Thus before the creation of the PML-Q they were affiliated with the PML-N.
The PML-Q, JUI-F and the Balochistan National Party (BNP-Awami), an ally of the PML-Q, were components of the previous provincial coalition government formed under an agreement ironed out by a powerful secret agency.
The coalition government not only failed to make head-way in resolving Balochistan’s problems but was also in office when the army operation was launched in the province, provoking the Baloch population.
The JUI-F, which traditionally clinches a majority of seats in the Pashtun areas of the province, also failed to make progress with respect to its claim regarding the enforcement of Sharia. Its policy decisions apparently proved helpful for President Musharraf who is an important ally of the US and Nato.
This created a political environment that the nationalist forces used to their advantage. Their stance helped them project the partners of the erstwhile coalition government in a negative light.
But they surrendered a golden opportunity to gain the upper hand in electoral politics and opted for a boycott.
Nationalist forces did their utmost to mobilise a countrywide boycott of the elections but their efforts failed in the face of the challenge from the PPP which did not agree to a boycott on the plea that the field should not be left open for undemocratic forces.
Nationalist forces are of the view that for the first time a large number of apex courts have shown courage. Instead of validating the measures adopted by a dictator, the judges have stood up against an unconstitutional government. Sixty judges did not take oath under the PCO following the imposition of emergency.
“Politicians have always been blaming the judiciary for legalising unconstitutional steps taken by dictators. But after 60 years, the judges of the superior court demonstrated their courage and rendered a big sacrifice for democracy and the rule of law.
Now it is for the politicians and political parties to stand behind those judges who did not take oath under the PCO,” said Mehmood Khan Achakzai, the head of PONM and convener of the APDM.
The decision to boycott elections adversely affected the National Party.
But its senior vice-president Sardar Sanaullah Zehri and provincial president Muhammad Ayub Jattak did not agree with the boycott decision. The party did not care for the loss and stood by its decision.
Announcing a new group to be called the National Party Parliamentarians, Sardar Sanaullah Zehri said that the central committee of the party had linked the boycott of polls to the PML-N decision.
“The PML-N did not boycott the polls. Therefore, the decision of a party not taking into account the decision of the PML-N was in violation of the decision of the party’s central committee,” pleaded Sardar Sanaullah Zehri.
The National Party comprises ideological and committed workers. Except for three or four candidates, the others withdrew their nomination papers under the APDM decision.
The decision to boycott the polls by three important nationalist parties has eased the situation for the PML-Q, BNP (Awami) and the JUI-F. Political pundits in the province are of the view that the nationalists’ boycott would benefit them. Because of the boycott the election campaign has not picked up.
The nationalist forces have launched a campaign against elections which are bound to be affected badly.
Political observers predict that the turnout will be very low in Balochistan because of non-participation due to the boycott of the nationalists.
It would have a negative impact as it would support the plea of those forces in Balochistan that are stressing that Baloch nationalists quit parliamentary politics forever as it was not a solution to the problems of the Baloch.
This could be a prelude to a period of uncertainty in Balochistan because the absence of the nationalists from the assemblies could lead to a constant stream of street protests.
http://www.dawn.com/2008/01/19/op.htm |
