Alia Tabassum
Ali Haider Gillani abducted by unknown armed persons yesterday, is still missing. During his election compaign two companions of Mr Gillani killed and Gillani himself abducted by unknown persons. His brother Abdul Qadir Gillani, doubts that his political rivals could be involved in his abduction.
It is premature to blame any political rivals, also the brutal acts of criminals clearly shows the motives of culprits are to disturb the election process.
Ground realities are very different from what Abdul Qadir Gillani says. After 5 years of its rule, Pakistan People's Party had lost its credibility among common people. None of the political party is ready to take PPPP as a strong candidate.
Common perception about abduction of Mr. Gillani is very different, but it is to sure that those are the powers involved, wants to destabilize the electoral system.
Unfortunately government of Pakistan had not handled the terrorism issue in sensible way. Former Interior Minister Rehman Malik, have been claiming for terrorism been rooted out from the country.
In the last days of government, Taliban offered peace talks with the government of Pakistan. Taliban had some reservations and so the elected government as well, but there were chances, for peace dialogue would guarantee temporary peace, at least during election period.
In the present situation, more than 100 people had been killed in election campaign. Son of former PM is missing and there are threats from Taliban, to voters and to candidates. In such a suffocated environment and dangerous situation the turn out can not be increased as expected by Election Commission.
Taliban are the reality and they are there to sabotage the electoral system. They will go to any extent to keep the turn out disappointing.
Government of Pakistan had a choice to take solid steps to eradicate the terrorism. They failed, because sincere efforts never been done.Drone attacks and US presence was not the solution of terrorism, government should have had its own policy to counter terrorism.
When it was two late for everything, there was an opportunity for peaceful election for the government of Pakistan that they missed by neglecting the offer of peace talk. Pakistan kept burning in five years and now the fire can be seen spread to the door steps of most secured class.
