Poll-time talk
Monday, May 25, 2009
Editorial, The News International, Pakistan
Monday, May 25, 2009
We are suddenly hearing talk of a possible mid-term poll. Some reports state the PML-N is indeed preparing for this, has given instructions to its representatives to pay attention to their constituencies and has also been suggesting that the party has the support of ’international’ forces. This presumably is a reference to the US which had in recent months shown a greater willingness to look at the PML-N in a positive light. The party has also been making an active effort to distance itself from the Taliban and prove it is not opposed to all-out action against them. There has been a change in this from the previous PML-N position.
But the push for early polls is not a positive omen at this point. Pakistan is currently engaged in all-out war. What we need most of all is stability and the order that is required to hold a nation together. Beyond this too, for the sake of democracy, we need to see a government complete its term. The frequent disruption of tenures in the past has been a factor in the failures with democracy that we have seen. It is also true that over the past few months, the PPP government seems to have improved its performance and done much better than before. Now the prime minster finally seems to be in stride, directing the military operation and acting as a man in control. In this situation it is important that there is no destabilization. This would only benefit forces that oppose democracy. All political parties need to play a responsible role and to place the interests of their country ahead of those of their own parties and leaders.
Source
Monday, May 25, 2009
We are suddenly hearing talk of a possible mid-term poll. Some reports state the PML-N is indeed preparing for this, has given instructions to its representatives to pay attention to their constituencies and has also been suggesting that the party has the support of ’international’ forces. This presumably is a reference to the US which had in recent months shown a greater willingness to look at the PML-N in a positive light. The party has also been making an active effort to distance itself from the Taliban and prove it is not opposed to all-out action against them. There has been a change in this from the previous PML-N position.
But the push for early polls is not a positive omen at this point. Pakistan is currently engaged in all-out war. What we need most of all is stability and the order that is required to hold a nation together. Beyond this too, for the sake of democracy, we need to see a government complete its term. The frequent disruption of tenures in the past has been a factor in the failures with democracy that we have seen. It is also true that over the past few months, the PPP government seems to have improved its performance and done much better than before. Now the prime minster finally seems to be in stride, directing the military operation and acting as a man in control. In this situation it is important that there is no destabilization. This would only benefit forces that oppose democracy. All political parties need to play a responsible role and to place the interests of their country ahead of those of their own parties and leaders.
Source
Labels: Midterm Elections, PML(N), Politics
posted @ 9:41 AM,
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