Relief, jubilation in Qatar over Pakistan poll results

PAKISTANIS in Qatar have expressed immense relief and broken into jubilation after the results of the general elections were announced yesterday.

The nation of 160mn, with 81mn registered voters, went to polls to elect a national assembly and four provincial assemblies for the next five years.

“Though no single party has got absolute majority, most of the seats were won by the opposition parties, including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), and the secular Awami National Party (ANP).”

“Elections are a time of change for any country. This last year has been so chaotic, that it now seems to be a bad dream. This is certainly the beginning of the end of extremism in Pakistan,” said Rashid Ali, president of Pakistan Engineers Forum, while referring to the defeat of the ‘religious parties’ in the country.

“The turnout (46%) was respectfully by any standard with even the tribal areas witnessing 26% polling. This shows the very democratic face of Pakistan,” said Ali.

“I am a little apprehensive about both leaders of the two opposition parties have been known to be involved in corruption cases. But hopefully, while in exile or jail, they have learned their lessons and a process of reconciliation can now begin resulting in a coalition government of national consensus,” he said.

“This re-emergence of former political leaders also highlights the growing maturity that the political parties lacked in the past decade or so,” he added.

“The masses have rejected Musharraf and his ruling party outright. This was in fact a referendum on Musharraf and his backers, which he has lost. This would be a good time for the dictator to leave with a dignified posture and let the representatives of the people take charge,” said Mohamed Khan, managing director, Unicon Int’l.

“The stalwarts of the ruling party, even its president, have been defeated. What else can be seen as an explicit rejection of their policies?” said Khan.

“ANP in this election has shown to the whole world that Pakhtoons do uphold the values of democracy and reject extremism. PML (N) also stood by its pledge to work towards restoring the integrity of the judiciary that Musharraf so cruelly stamped on,” added Khan.

“I congratulate all those for standing a peaceful election. This is when democracy is tested. Those who think they can do whatever they please will now have to face the people. Hopefully after decades in this country, there will be some stability and some economic relief,” said Azim Khan, president of the PPP’s local chapter.

“I ask leaders to have pity on the common people who have been suffering the hardships of daily life in an unstable environment for too long,” added Khan.

“Instead of bending victim to leading parties (PPP & PML-N) it should sit down and come to terms on crucial points such as restoration of the judiciary, give Musharraf a safe exit and encourage Army Chief Kayani to ensure no further army interference,” he said.

“Gauging public opinion is a difficult matter. I don’t know why these people keep maligning Musharraf. He has kept his promise after decades in this country, is at peril. Free and fair elections were held after decades in this country under him. He has shed his uniform too and even promised to act as a ‘father’ figure, while accepting the results of the elections gracefully,” said Iftikhar Ahmed Abbasi, general manager, Al Khalaf Group.

“I don’t care who will become the next prime minister, but I care about the future. The wisdom that ordinary Pakistanis have shown will apparently be lost on the ‘educated’ elites in the garb of politicians,” added Abbasi.

Abbasi also gave credit to the thousands of military personnel, policemen and the civil administration for organising an election in a difficult situation.

“I remember reading that Pakistan is at peril. I I wonder whether these paid journalists selling to international audience, would go down the same low road after these elections?” asked Gulzar Ahmed, who works for the Mannai Corporation.

“This election was good news that followed in an ominous last year. Hopefully, the law and order situation, restoration of judiciary and people-centric policies can now be framed and achieved through a strong coalition government of PPP and PML (N) in the centre. These elections must not go to waste,” Ahmed said.

“If the difficult days following the next 10-12 days will bring for the ever-predictable Pakistani public, but there are a good number of reasons to be cheerful, for now,” he added.