Whom do you see on horizon?

As we are nearing to elect new National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies each political party is trying to assert that it is the best one to serve the nation for next five years and therefore and it is quite but natural that its leaders are addressing masses in different cities and towns to generate their favorites and for sure they did succeed to some extent because so many people have already given them their solemn assurances to vote for them.

PPP lead by President Asif Ali Zardari which is ruling the country for last 5 years is no mood to quit the power upon completion of its stipulated term and hand it to over to others rather on the contra it is adopting to many tactics like appointing new faces on important posts as new Governor has been appointed in Punjab and it is giving more and more money to some areas in the name of development so that its vote bank increases. Imran Khan former captain of Pakistan cricket team which lifted World Cup now heads Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf though has no sitting MNA or MPA but still for so many long months he is running from one corner to another making sure that its party sweeps in the elections when the date comes. Mian Nawaz Sharif of PML (N) which has quite good representation both at national and pronvincial leavel is very much dug in so that his party gets maximum seats which as such will pave his way to become PM for 3^rd time. Shujaat Hussain of PML (Q) whose some MNAs and MPAs are already in the incumbent assemblies is grinding his axe to increase his legislative members in the forthcoming elections. MQM which has few MNAs but majority of MPAs in Sindh is all set to give tough fight to its opponents when they face each other in 2013 elections. Maulana Fazal Hussain of JUI (F) who rightly boasts of capturing seats both at national and provincial is also very much in the run not to miss the chance to increase its presence in the two arenas. ANP did get some seats in the present national assembly and provincial assemblies but quite naturally it wants to capture more seats in the year 2013. Pir Pagra who chairs PML (F) is yet another political figure who though did not get many seats in the present set up but he is very much determined to get much more in the future election than what he has and has now. Gen ® Pervez Musharraf, former President who has formed APML though sitting in London has very much set his eyes on the forthcoming election so he cannot and should not be forgotten. Then there are other parties also in the run though they do not have any sitting MNA or MPA while there are just a few independent candidates as well for the next election.

No denying the fact, the above political parties have spent lot of money and time for many long months and not just weeks or days to create favorable conditions to convincingly win in the next election which is quite fine and reasonable. They all have chalked out their different strategies of going all out in coming weeks and months so that their vote bank swells. Few parties have already negotiated and agreed upon a formula of give and take or in other words seats adjustments meaning by that they have agreed as to which commonly accepted person will be fielded and from which constituency so that there is no clash of interests between them. Such like understanding will be developed by others as well in near future and this all is quite healthy sign of political activity which is very much vogue in other countries as well. The voters at this point of time have only the above named political figures and parties in their mind and though bulk majority of voters have already decided as to whom they will vote from the above mentioned contestants while on the other hand there others are those also who are still viewing and reviewing the performance of all political parties and even gauging the potential contestants before they can decide as to who deserves the most. However, one way or the other, picture is not that blur so far as voters and contestants are concerned which is quite a healthy sign and it very much matches with such like atmosphere in many other countries of the world as well.

Very much surprisingly Dr Tahir Qadri has jumped into political arena like a strong wind with some thrust of blows too which at least shook if has not saddened some of those who have drained out their sources and resources to win in the next election. He has proposed that there must be electoral reforms before the care taker government steps in so that the political suffocation is overpowered which has plagued us very badly. He gave almost three weeks notice to the present set up headed by President Zardari but in case if it is not carried out then he will lead a march of millions not thousands (which I don’t believe) from Lahore to Islamabad on 14^th January, 2013 which is quite disturbing at least if nit annoying. Imran Khan was the very first person who said that Dr Tahir has said the same thing which he has been saying all along. MQM which is an ally of PPP has announced that its political workers and sympathizers will be with Dr Tahir and they will march from Lahore to Islamabad. As the bad luck had its PML (Q) which is very much hand and glove with PPP has also announced that it is with Dr Tahir and as a result he is now not alone but has full support of both prominent political parties namely MQM and PML (Q). Dr Tahir has already indicated that he will be care taker PM if his supporters want. As a neutral person I will feel sorry id Dr Tahir takes over leaving them high and dry who have spent everything hoping that they will win.

Whom do you see on the horizon now?

Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait