Pakistan

Pakistan- A Tryst With Destiny

At the time that I am typing this article, counting is underway after elections which took place amidst widespread fears of rigging and violence. Pakistan really is at a cross-roads, it is time for it's people to decide the path for their country. While the educated and cultured elite clamour for change, a growing section of the population for a religious renaissance, most of the Pakistani citizens are fed-up with the happenings in their country. It really is a tryst with destiny as the results will have far reaching ramifications. If the Pakistan's People's Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) do win this election then it would to be curtains for Pervez Musharraf. On the other hand if the ruling PML (Q) wins, then rigging will alleged and political parties will go the streets further increasing problems for the embattled President. Pakistan today is the complete opposite of what it's founding fathers wanted it be. Jinnah and Liaqat Ali Khan aimed at establishing a secular, democratic and fundamentally strong State. It is of importance to note that Pakistan was not declared an Islamic Republic till the late 1970's but was essentially a secular state.

Another note of historical significance is the only free and fair elections that were held in 1970 led to the splitting up of the country and the creation of Bangladesh. Sheikh Mujibur Rehman along with his Awami League had won all the seats in East Pakistan and Zulfiqar Bhutto had won most of the seats in West Pakistan. However despite such mass distortions, Mujibur had won a majority of seats in Parliament and was to be invited to be sworn is Prime Minister of Pakistan. That never happened and ultimately the Bangladesh Liberation War took place. One can only hope that the same situation does not take place again. In Sindh, the province of late prime minister there is mass resentment against the Punjabis, the North-West Frontier Province has been clamouring for independence but the Awami National Party is not the force that it should to be after the death of Khan Wali Khan. Balochistan too has been resenting against the exploitation of it's valuable gas and oil reserves by the Pakistani establishment, the result- independence. If elections