KARACHI, Aug 31: Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians chief Makhdoom Amin Fahim was non-committal on the possibility of pulling out of the electoral process, but dropped a hint when he warned the regime that if the PPP was pushed to the wall, it will be compelled to consider all other options.
At a news conference on Saturday at Bilawal House, he was asked several questions on the possibility of a boycott of elections after rejection of nomination papers of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto and others and detention of hundreds of activists.
“We have challenged the government measures in the court and hope that courts will play their role in upholding rights of the people. However, when we see the ground realities, we will decide,” said Makhdoom Amin Fahim.
Such measures, he said, create doubts about government’s intentions and if there is any wrongdoing, the people reserve the right of protest. “I cannot predict what course that protest will take”, he added.
Makhdoom Amin Fahim, however, stressed that his party firmly believes in democratic political dispensation and was not going to give a walkover to the “Kings Party”. However, double standards of the regime were adding to dissension and division in the society which poses danger for the federation and the country.
He said that the PPP had demanded free, fair and transparent elections, but rejection of Ms Bhutto’s nomination paper was not fair-play.
He said that the PPP had welcomed the acceptance of nomination papers of Mian Nawaz Sharif, Mian Shahbaz Sharif and Begum Kulsoom Nawaz because it firmly believes that every Pakistani should have the right to offer himself to the people of Pakistan for seeking their mandate. But the rejection of Benazir Bhutto’s papers, who commands respect of millions of people is mala fide and clearly establishes regime’s double standards.
It is wrong and deplorable because it will not serve the cause of free, fair and transparent electoral process and democracy.
He claimed that Ms Bhutto had not been convicted in any criminal case by any court. She has been barred owing to absconsion although she had gone abroad with the court’s permission and was always represented through her lawyer.
He said that Pakistan’s security and stability of federation is endangered by such double standards. The government is trying to create a feeling that there is different yardstick for Lahore and Larkana.
He also deplored rejection of nomination papers of the Sindh PPP chief Nisar Khuhro, Ali Nawaz Shah and others.
Mian Raza Rabbani, acting secretary-general of the PPP, referred to provincial minister Muqeem Khoso’s reported statment in which he had sated that Nisar Khuhro’s papers will be rejected and Khurshid Shah will be defeated. This, he said, indicated that the government already knew results.
Makhdoom Fahim also claimed that a large number of activists, including its candidates, have been detained by authorities.
“This is not acceptable. We demand that they should be released forthwith otherwise those who have done that will be held responsible for the reaction,” he said.
While underscoring the exigency of holding of impending elections in a free transparent, and fair manner, he said holding integrity and sovereignty of the motherland, intact, is the most vital issue and by taking these imprudent decisions, present rulers are conveying acrimonious lessen to the nation and exacerbating feelings of alienation among people of Sindh and may create polarization-like situation, adds PPI.
Assailing issuance of forms by the special branch to election contesting candidates seeking detailed information about their relatives and friends, he termed the move uncalled-for as the right rests only with Election Commission which was the sole authority to seek such an information from them.
“Unlike Pakistan, parliamentarians across the world get due privilege and respect in their respective countries, but it is quite reverse as they are degraded and humiliated in an unprecedented manner and it is incumbent upon the election commission to take cognizance of this whole situation.
He claimed that since morning police has encircled Bilawal House and this step had been creating doubts in the minds of people about the holding of elections.
Responding to newsmen’s queries, he said during his frequent meetings with President Pervaiz Musharraf, he was given an assurance that the elections would be held in a free, transparent and impartial manner with the objective of according chance to every political party without any discrimination.
“However, if the government fails to honour its commitments, political parties reserve the right to decide their future line of action and launch a protest against the same”.
To another question about possibility of using Sindh card if hostile situation continues against the party, he rejected such prospects and claimed on the contrary that any attempt in this direction would be countered by the party as it strictly believed in strengthening the federation and the country.
“However, government’s ill-directed moves are fanning such feelings among masses which would not augur well for the future of the country and the election commission must take exception to this alarming situation”, he added.
