LAHORE, Nov 28: Parties that were in the opposition during the past five years are divided over the issue of contesting the elections. Ms Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party and Maulana Fazlur Rahman’s Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam are in favour of taking part in the polls, while most of the components of the All Parties Democratic Movement want that all anti-Musharraf parties should boycott the electoral process to deprive it of credibility at the international level.

The JUI-F says it is not under obligation to accept the APDM’s decisions. In fact, it’s not clear whether it will participate in the APDM’s meeting scheduled to be held in Lahore on Thursday (today).

Parties in favour of taking part in the elections or staying away have arguments in support of their respective points of view. Those inclined to become part of the process argue that since the 2002 polls were also held under the supervision of Gen Musharraf — and were contested by all parties — there would be a little justification for any party not to take part this time. They also contend that the field should not be left open to rivals, as by doing so they would be giving them a walkover.

On the other hand, political parties in favour of boycotting the polls have their own arguments. One argument is that participation in the process will amount to according legitimacy to all steps, including the Nov 3 second PCO promulgated by Gen Musharraf and the steps taken thereunder, which will not be a right decision for any democratic force to take.

This political school of thought also insists that all superior court judges deposed as a result of the PCO should be reinstated.

PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif said in Lahore that unless the deposed judges were brought back to courtrooms, no other step, not even the appointment of his younger brother, Shahbaz Sharif, as caretaker prime minister, could satisfy the PML-N and its allied parties.

In other words, Gen Musharraf’s decision to shed his uniform, though a positive step and in line with the demands of the PML-N, will not change this camp’s opinion.

Political observers are of the view that contesting the elections will be a better option for the anti-Musharraf parties provided they use all their energies to get maximum seats. In case such parties succeed in getting a two-third majority in the National Assembly, they will be in a position to take steps to make amendments to the Constitution.

Since the PML has majority’s support in the Senate at present, because of which a constitutional amendment approved by the future National Assembly will not become effective, the situation will change when 50 per cent members of the upper house retire after some time and their seats are filled by the people elected by the new provincial assemblies.

Once the anti-Musharraf parties have the required numerical strength in the bicameral house, they can review the entire constitution and strike down all unwanted things alien to the parliamentary system.

The parliament can approve reinstatement of the deposed judges with retrospective effect and also take appropriate decision about the judges who were inducted or elevated after the PCO.

Everybody knows that all parties, except the then Pakistan Muslim League and the Jamaat-i-Islami, had contested the 1985 non-party elections. Both the parties had supported the Eighth constitutional amendment. This amendment which, it was then claimed, had changed the character of the Constitution, had remained in existence for about a decade till the second PML-N government of Nawaz Sharif scrapped it with cooperation from other parties.

If major parties stay out of the elections this time, they will be playing a role to keep the amendments made through the November PCO as part of the Constitution for a long time.

Some political leaders are of the view that by contesting the elections and getting two-third majority, the parties may be able even to impeach President Musharraf and bring in a head of state of their own choice. This will be the best way to show the power of parliament as an institution.

The participation of the PPP and the PML-N in the polls may land Musharraf in a difficult situation.

It’s an open secret that Gen Musharraf, despite wearing the dual-hat during the past five years, could address the joint session of parliament only once. Four parliamentary years went without an address from the president, which otherwise is a constitutional requirement at the beginning of a parliamentary year.

A man who could not dare address a parliament for the fear of slogans against him, will certainly find difficult to address a joint session even once when he is out of his uniform and if both former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif are in the house.

Parties which boycotted the polls will not be able to make any contribution to the political process. And since for the time being it is very difficult to launch an agitation and block the electoral process, parties staying out of the electoral process may have to wait for a long time before getting a room for themselves.