Dear Editor,
From reports coming out of Pakistan, it appears that the party of the late Benazir Bhutto will win tomorrow’s general elections to choose the national assembly.
Opinion polls show the PPP winning about half the seats. This is a major gain for the PPP from the last election when the party did poorly. Apparently, there is a sympathy wave for the party following Bhutto’s assassination by Islamic terrorists. Countrywide, the PPP expects to ride a pro-Benazir sympathy wave in this election. The effect of the sympathy wave will be most apparent in her home province of Sindh but could also benefit PPP candidates in Punjab, the country’s biggest province, and the one that decides the winning party. When sympathy is added to shock shortages of wheat, power and cooking gas this winter, the PPP is in a commanding position to win an outright victory or close to it unless there is major poll rigging as opposition politicians fear.
The polls also show the radical Islamic parties losing ground with the parties tied to Al Qaeda being virtually wiped out. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief’s party PML (N) is doing well but way behind Bhutto;s party. President Musharaff party’s has also lost ground. People perceive the PML (Q) as responsible in some way for Benazir’s killing. Created by President Musharraf in 2002, the party grew powerful on his back. But now he is extremely unpopular and there are serious questions whether he will survive politically after the elections. Pressure will mount on him to resign.
And I won’t be surprised if the US urge him to make way for a civilian head of state unless he decides to work with the new democratic government. A poll by the International Republican Institute, a US Republican party outfit, shows his popularity has plunged to an all time low with 75 per cent saying they want him to resign immediately.
A news report says that independent observers have expressed concerns that the PML (Q) has already used state machinery to carry out what it calls “pre-poll rigging,” and that the Election Commission has done nothing to stop it. The complaints include faulty voters lists and “ghost” polling stations. Candidates are also harassed. If the votes are counted fairly, PPP will win big.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
