Chowrangi

Whenever any important date marking any political event draws near, government starts accumulating opposition leaders like goats and sheep in the jails and police stations. First on 10th September, when Nawaz Sharif came, it happened, and now its happening once again just before the presidential election is about to start.

After the announcement of schedule of Presidential elections, police is cracking down on any notable political leader in the all cities of country, especially in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Gujranwala etc. Police has managed to arrest hundreds of activists of All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM), and the raids are still going on in full swing. Leaders of PML(N), and MMA are being locked up in police stations and jails. Javed Hashmi and Hafiz Hussain Ahmad were taken from Parliament lodges by force and police shifted them to Adyala jail.

It seems that Javed Hashmi and jail have become darling to each other. Is it a democracy? Don’t every one has a right to raise his own political opinion? After the announcement of the presidential elections, its the right of every political party to put forward the name of its own candidate, or put forward its concerning policy. Its also the part of democratic process that political parties run their campaign without obstacles. Governmental alliance has nominated President Musharraf its candidate, and they have also categorically made it pubic that they would elect Musharraf for President in the uniform.

It’s a striking example of duality of ruling party, PML-Q. At one side they say that they are not afraid of anyone, and will compete with the opponents in the political field one to one, and on the other hand they are using the full official machinery to silence and suppress the opposition. It seems that present regime is trying to stop opposition party to sit together and decide on the modus operandi of rendering the resignations. These are the tough times for the government, as some 18 members of ruling party are also against electing Musharraf in uniform.

It’s high time that common sense prevail in the government rows, and they should let the opposition do whatever they do in the constitutional parameters. They should enable and allow public to decide whats right and whats wrong, and its public who should ultimately decide to whom elect.

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• India Wants People, Who are Not There - December 3rd, 2008
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• Not So Grave - December 2nd, 2008
• Adil Najam: A Mumbaikar? - December 2nd, 2008
• Save Karachi - December 1st, 2008
• Belligerency Won't Take us Anywhere - December 1st, 2008
• Careless Approach by Nuclear India - November 30th, 2008
• Indo-Pak Tension - November 30th, 2008