Village Journals
Resonate your identity with Naseeb journals. Express your opinions, share your thoughts, post your writings and connect with like minded people through the power of expression.
Resonate your identity with Naseeb journals. Express your opinions, share your thoughts, post your writings and connect with like minded people through the power of expression.
A code of honour
The dates are set, and there seems to be an air of nervous apprehension as the Local Bodies elections draw near. The apprehension is particularly strong in Karachi ? and with good reason. The city, plagued by socio-political violence for over a decade now, is expected to be the stage for a political clash between parties vying for power.
The MMA has announced that it will form a five-member committee to meet various political parties to discuss the issue of law and order during the forthcoming elections. The aim of the committee is to formulate a "joint election policy" to ensure a peaceful procedure in order to give the people a chance to voice their opinions about who they want representing them.
On the other end of the political spectrum, the MQM is convening an All Parties Conference. Much like the MMA committee, this conference is also targeted at ensuring that the elections are held in a cordial atmosphere.
All this is happening in the background of fresh violence in the city, that involves both the MQM and JI.
Karachi has been a battleground for MQM ministers and JI nazims, with each blaming the other for violations of power and abuse of authority. The two have been struggling for power since the MQM boycotted the first Local Bodies Election in 2001.
The MQM camp appears to view the elections as an opportunity to gain unprecedented power in Sindh, and be in a better position to dictate terms to the ruling party at the federal and provincial levels. The JI won't be ready to concede the power they have gained over these few years. And others will be looking to benefit from the conflict.
Their recent calls for peace are most welcome, particularly if they reflect a genuine desire for an incident-free election. However, there are apprehensions that all this is mere rhetoric aimed at wooing the general public once the finger pointing starts. The lack of trust is hardly surprising giving the track record of the Pakistani brand of politics, where promises are a dime a dozen and action is rare.
Code of honour or not, there is little doubt that, come the LB elections, the political stakes will be high and people's hopes low.
The MMA has announced that it will form a five-member committee to meet various political parties to discuss the issue of law and order during the forthcoming elections. The aim of the committee is to formulate a "joint election policy" to ensure a peaceful procedure in order to give the people a chance to voice their opinions about who they want representing them.
On the other end of the political spectrum, the MQM is convening an All Parties Conference. Much like the MMA committee, this conference is also targeted at ensuring that the elections are held in a cordial atmosphere.
All this is happening in the background of fresh violence in the city, that involves both the MQM and JI.
Karachi has been a battleground for MQM ministers and JI nazims, with each blaming the other for violations of power and abuse of authority. The two have been struggling for power since the MQM boycotted the first Local Bodies Election in 2001.
The MQM camp appears to view the elections as an opportunity to gain unprecedented power in Sindh, and be in a better position to dictate terms to the ruling party at the federal and provincial levels. The JI won't be ready to concede the power they have gained over these few years. And others will be looking to benefit from the conflict.
Their recent calls for peace are most welcome, particularly if they reflect a genuine desire for an incident-free election. However, there are apprehensions that all this is mere rhetoric aimed at wooing the general public once the finger pointing starts. The lack of trust is hardly surprising giving the track record of the Pakistani brand of politics, where promises are a dime a dozen and action is rare.
Code of honour or not, there is little doubt that, come the LB elections, the political stakes will be high and people's hopes low.