KARACHI, Sept 13: Only 25 days are left for the general elections, but political parties have not yet brought out their election manifestos. In the absence of manifestos, not only candidates but even central leaders of most of the political parties do not appear to have a programme as to how they plan to resolve the pressing issues confronting the nation.
Political leaders do refer to the issues, but they fail to identify the measures which could help cure the malaise.
Leaders, in their public speeches and press conferences, often raise questions vis-a-vis economic policies, particularly with reference to implementation of the conditionalities of the IMF and the World Bank which have been resulting in rising cost of utilities.
Instead of explaining how the problems of soaring prices, increasing unemployment, investor hesitation, and restoring confidence of the indigenous entrepreneur could be tackled if their parties are voted to power, they go on harping the tune of adopting policies conducive to employment generation and to attract investors.
Likewise, foreign policy issues, including Kashmir policy, relations with neighbouring countries and defence matters with particular reference to Pakistan’s nuclear programme, remain untouched or are discussed in a manner as though they were peripheral issues. Except for rightwing parties represented by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), all major parties are yet to come out with articulate views on these issues.
In the absence of manifestos candidates in their corner meetings were heard raising local issues which are matters concerning local government, not problems to be taken to the assemblies.
For the October elections, some 100 political parties and alliances have been declared eligible to field their candidates by the Election Commission. But so far not a single party from among the mainstream political parties have presented its election manifesto before the voters.
When their leaders are asked about manifesto, their pet reply is that it is being finalized and would be released soon.
However, when stake-holders in the October elections were asked to explain the reasons for delay in bringing out manifestos, they appeared to be unsure about the election schedule amid reports that America is determined to attack Iraq within a few weeks.
The mainstream parties, including the Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and leadership of the MMA, during informal chat with Dawn termed the political situation fluid, and said it was one of the main barriers to the takeoff of electioneering in the country.
Their leaders, who asked not to be named, said: “Undoubtedly, the government’s spokesman and Gen Pervez Musharraf himself have repeatedly said emphatically that elections would be held according to the schedule, but our sixth sense keeps us from fully believing in the assurance of the military rulers.
“We have a hunch that since the government has failed to build up a ‘King’s Party,’ the military rulers could postpone the elections.”
Political observers are of the view that the military regime is holding elections under the pressure of the USA and Western countries. If Gen Musharraf on his present visit to the USA succeeded in convincing Western leaders of the victory of parties in the elections which do not accept the American view of terrorism, he could easily wriggle out of the election compulsion.
