The Political Agitation & Economic Depression In Pakistan

Uncertainty is one of the elements that make even probability of success or failure in anything. Pakistan is about to celebrate 68th year of independence still after years of freedom it is full with surprises & rich in uncertainty. At the time of independence, it was supposed to be welfare Islamic state, but after years of independence, if we look at the overall situation of major sectors like power, employment, security, food, education, agriculture, economy supposed to be backbone of country are suffering from severe crisis.

If we lookout for the core factor worsening the situation of almost all the sector is ‘Politics’. In terms of definition politics is the composition of activities & practices of the people of state for the acquisition of power and government affairs, but the culture of Pakistani politics tells different story. After the elections of 2013, the political tug of war between two status quo parties shattered rest of the economic stability left after the destruction of terrorism. One to one tension between Pakistan political parties comes both at national as well as provincial level, which are as follows:

1. Pakistan PTI accused another political group PML-N for alleged rigging both at federal and provincial level. 
2. The settled and unsettled matters between PPPP & MQM for Sindh’s devolution of power.
3. Political tension between ANP and MQM for the manifestation of power.

Country had situations after the announcement of protest by PTI:

• It was due to proclamation before the start of protest, the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) closed on 666.24 down points. 
• UN Human Development Report 2014 revealed that Pakistan has 146th among meager income countries, this situation would have been more after violence.
• Last year, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) released poverty survey, which mentioned that 58.7 million people are living their life under the menace of multidimensional poverty among which 46 % are rural and 18% are urban, certainly, after nonviable economic situation, indicators were not in good position. 

When political situation of the country got unstable after the start of protest, revival & continuity of economic policies became uncertain. Consequently, it reduced the investment and productivity in the economy. As political instability further increased after violence in protest, it grew unrest in the form of strikes and demonstrations at public level that ceased the economic growth routine of firms & markets. By the persistence of bad political situation, prices of fuel got height that also increased the prices of consumable items of daily use by decreasing the purchase power of common person. Such situation also boosted inflationary rate, unemployment, civil disobedience, national harmony and many other problems.

Suggestively, political leaders are the asset of homeland, so it makes them responsible about critical condition. When a political circumstance of the country goes worse, then economic condition gets a shape seen last eight years, along with nation that is in state of war since eleven years to combat the menace of terrorism.

After all this, elections for local government, by-elections and results on election dispute are pending from Supreme Court of Pakistan. Fluctuations in the electoral temperature also oscillates the economical condition of country, in such situations, political parties should play a responsible role to protect economy from down phases.

Political Freedom in Pakistan

Political Freedom in Pakistan

Though Pakistan was formed to endorse the ethics of democracy, the history of Pakistan is endemic with Military coups in Pakistan, and for most of its account after freedom has been feint by military dictators who state themselves president. The General elections of Pakistan, 2013 were the first elections in the country where there was a legitimate relocate of authority from one civilian government to another. The elections were blemished by terrorist attacks that murdered hundreds and injured more than 500 and extensive rigging of polls, the utmost in the state's proof account.

Religious minorities were disallowed from voting for Muslim candidates after Zia-ul-Haq's Islamization and non-Muslims are limited in the posts they may compete for, with some of the higher posts being occupied to them. Even though some of these commandments were afterward annulled religious minorities still prolong to counter numerous boundaries in politics.

Though unhurried but sturdy evolution has been made towards return to democracy in the last decade, many Pakistanis and foreign analyst see the military still determinedly unshakable in politics with the government playing second swindle to the military. The government is extensively seen as having no power over the armed forces and the Inter-Services Intelligence.

Most of Pakistan's laws are worldly in temperament, some of which were inborn from the United Kingdom's colonial rule of current Pakistan before 1947. Though in practice, ruthless Sharia Law takes priority over Pakistani law. What are measured Basic human rights in Pakistan and even slight delinquency in most of the cultured world bear a death sentence in Pakistan. The constitutionof Pakistan has been altered numerous times in its short history, with Islamization being the lashing aspect. Though the government has endorsed a few actions to counteract any harm, abuses stay. Also, courts endure from lack of funds, external interference, and deep case accumulation that guide to extended tryout delays and prolonged pretrial detentions. Many spectator inside and outside Pakistan challenge that Pakistan’s legal code is mostly disturbed with felony, national defense, and domestic serenity and fewer with the defense of individual rights.

In 2010, Foreign Policy ordered Pakistan as number ten on its Failed States Index, inserting it in the "serious" group with such other futile or worsening states as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Somalia. Pakistan constantly records near the top of the list of failed states year after year.

For more information do visit www.pakvoter.org

PTI Political Journey

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf

Starting with political party’s journey here I am discussing the political journey of one of the very famous parties i.e. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf nowadays and that is heavily followed by young generation too. In back times we have seen youth followers when Z.A Bhutto started its movement. But currently we are watching that how our youth is actively participating in political movements of the country due to the efforts put by their parties leaders, who are trying somehow a different approach that is attracting the public. The followers are not just from a specific age group but it is receiving its followers from different age groups.

Looking at the background of PTI, which came into being on 25^th April 1996 by a veteran cricketer turned politician “Imran Khan”.  It is difficult to establish your political party at such big level when there is family based political parties in Pakistan, that have established their reputation over years and years. Somehow it affected PTI for many years as it didn’t gain popularity. But 2012 turn to be lucky for PTI as it gain much more followers and well known leaders from many big parties like Shah Mehmood Qureshi From PPP and Javaid Hashmi from PML(N).

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's constitution was accepted on 24 January 1999 by the Central Executive Committee in Lahore. In October 2002, Khan holds for office in the National Elections and became a member of parliament from Mianwali, his home town. Khan, nonetheless, remained severely critical of the whole political order of Pakistan, which he believed fraudulent, inept, and morally bereft of any of the naissance ideologies of Pakistan. In dissent, Khan began a proletariat movement to raise attentiveness about his political party.

After Benazir Bhutto was murdered in 2007 and Nawaz Sharif comes back from self-exile in Saudi Arabia, demands augmented upon President Musharraf to embrace democratic elections. PTI, in concurrence with many political parties, united the All Parties Democratic Movement, which was conflicting to more martial rule.  That year general elections turned to be in the favor of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). And that election was boycotted by PTI.

Throughout the Asif Ali Zardari's government, Imran Khan's fame ascends amid dissatisfaction with the decree supervision domestic and foreign strategy. PTI's crucial plea is its qualifications as a populist party. PTI has sworn to fashion a really self-governing, independent Pakistan which is liberated from arrears, enslavement, and dispute if chosen to power. In Pakistan: A Personal History, PTI chairman Khan row that a self-centered and crooked ruling elite, fabricated of primarily politicians, feudal leaders, and military bureaucrats, has shattered Pakistan and brought it to the edge of debacle. PTI uphold that it symbolizes all Pakistanis, despite of religious, ethnic, linguistic, and provincial backgrounds.

In 2013 General elections PTI to be the 3^rd most voted political party of Pakistan. The further details of this Party and other parties will be discussed in next sessions. For more related information or to know your political candidate or you want to see political parties profile, do visit www.pakvoter.org.

Unemployment in Pakistan

The primary problem nowadays whole world is facing is of unemployment, which is increasing rapidly day by day. Due to unemployment many new crimes takes place. Pakistan that is an Asian country is facing some serious troubles in the name of unemployment because our resources have been wasted since the first day. We may find many educated persons jobless in our own family, friends and neighbors. Over years ago Master degree was so profound that jobs were fore granted to them, but now we won’t see only Master’s jobless but also the Doctorate ones too. For that we cannot blame the talent of Pakistani because whole world knows that Pakistanis are very talented and because of no value of their talent they are forced to do job in foreign countries to earn their livelihood.

Unemployment in Pakistan

No class in Pakistan remained untouched from being unemployed whether unskilled or skilled. The labor class is also affected by that and due to that the living standard is getting more miserable day by day. The basic needs and rights of every Pakistani are demolished in the burden of how to live happily with there family, they are desperately waiting for a chance to get out of there and that is one of the reason why our country is making no effort for future. We've made some effort to highlight some of the causes of Unemployment in Pakistan.

Causes of Unemployment

As there are many reasons of unemployment but we’re highlighting some of the major ones.

Over Population

The growth of population in Pakistan is uncontrolled, according to the statics the population of Pakistan is increasing at the rate of 2.2%. The causes to that can be many like early marriages, illiteracy, desires for sons and lack of awareness. Due to that we’re bringing some more uneducated persons and government is unable to provide jobs to them.

Fault in Education System

The education system in Pakistan has been on lopsided since its creation and that’s why many colleges and universities are selling degrees because of no standard and people are wondering that why they don’t have any job even if they have a degree with them. The entry level job in Pakistan is also demanded by experienced. How come any person could get a job having no experience, he need a start from somewhere but God knows how many hurdles he has to face to get a job. That’s why Pakistani prefer to study and live abroad to have stable learning and earning.

Terrorism in Pakistan

In earlier blogs we've mentioned that how terrorism is affecting Pakistan but let’s discuss that in this perspective. As we all know that Pakistan trades and business is being handled in Karachi and the situation in Karachi is getting worse and worse. They are facing target killings, robberies, murders, violence, day to day protest and blast. Due to this unstable environment the foreigners are also afraid to invest in Pakistan and without any investors how can Pakistan manage to give job opportunities to its people.

Energy Crises

We've already mention in our blog Energy Crises in Pakistan that how energy causes is bringing unemployment in Pakistan that even person having a job at morning comes in evening without any job. The country with uncountable natural resources and which has atomic power too is lacking of energy crises, how is that possible? And the answer is simple we've our resources but there is no proper planning and that’s why we’re bound to waste our resources. The Government of Pakistan is unable to provide power in residential areas, so how can they manage to give power to factories and industries and because of that factories and industries are out sourcing their work in other countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India. Hence bringing large amount of labor class to unemployment.

Age of Retirement

The age of retirement in Pakistan is very high; a person having a age of 60 years is getting retired by the Government of Pakistan so we can directly blame our government for that. A person having fresh mind and skill is beat by the person who is old enough and needs rest now. Young generation is without job and elders ones are bound to support there family at such high age where they need rest.

Refugees

When America attacked Afghanistan in 2001, plenty of Afghans migrated to Pakistan. For having some earning they were ready to work in fewer money in labor markets, that cause the labors of Pakistan to lose there jobs.

By proper planning we can work out for every problem. By making education system equal for every one, by training young ones with good skills and technical information, by removing energy crises we can bring our investors back, the age of retirement should be less. However it is a difficult task for Pakistan but still its not impossible. Government of Pakistan can take proper actions for that by educating people by making them aware for all the mess.

For more information about Civil rights in Pakistan, please visit Pakvoter

E-Voting in Pakistan

E-Voting in Pakistan

Electronic voting is usually seen as a means for making the electoral process more resourceful. E-voting solutions can amplify the safety of the ballot; boost up the dispensation of results and make voting easier.

Types of E-Voting:

Direct Recording Electronics (DRE) E-voting which is actually administrated by representatives of governmental or independent electoral establishment e.g. electronic voting machines located at polling stations. Distant e-Voting voting is performed within the voter's solitary power, and is not physically administrated by governmental authorities e.g. voting from one's PC, cell phone, TV via the internet (also called e-voting or Remote E-Voting)

Restricted Environments Seen as the electronic corresponding of customary paper-based voting in polling stations, Unrestricted Environments occurs without any direction and from voting devices that cannot be restricted by the election administration.

Strengths of E-Voting

• Quicker vote calculation and indexing
• More precise results as miscalculation is debarred
• Proficient management of knotty electoral systems
• Enhanced appearance of difficult ballot papers
• Better handiness for voters
• Automatic increased contribution and churn out
• Additional accustomed to the needs of a gradually more itinerant society
• Frauds in polling stations, transmission and tabulation are prevented as the human interaction is reduced to maximum level
• Augmented convenience
• Chance of different language user interfaces that can provide a different language electorate improved than paper ballots
• Possible durable cost investments through savings in poll worker time

Weaknesses of E-Voting

• Requisite of lucidity
• Restricted sincerity and accepting of the system for non-experienced
• Need to have settled principles for e-voting systems
• Probable contravention of the confidentiality of the vote
• Enlarged communications and ecological rations
• Augmented safety rations for defending the voting system in Pakistan
• Compact echelon of run by the election administration
• Partial narrate promises
• Incomplete hold up for immobilize voters
• Requirement for additional voter education movement
• Likely variance with the accessible legal framework

Future in Pakistan

• Facing a concern of having genuine democracy
• Pakistan’s initial step towards e-voting is to substantiate the voters
• ECP done door to door verification
• World’s largest voter confirmation is initiated through SMS

EVM Solutions

• The organism aims at ensuring lucidity and bogus elections
• Electronic thumb confirmation of each voter shall be done at the own polling station EVM Structure
• Voter recognition Unit
• Vote Casting Unit
• Result Management Unit

Weaknesses that Pakistan not overcome

• Need of simplicity
• Need to have settled principles for e-voting systems
• No Paper review trace
• Reduced level of control by the election administration because of high vendor- and/or technology-dependence
• Omitted hold up for disable voters
• Need for extra voter education movement possible conflict with the existing legal framework

By working on weaknesses I am sure that E-voting will help in removing corruption in elections, As we saw the biggest bogus General Elections in 2013

Democracy & Elections

Democracy & Elections

Despite the fact that democracy is not just about elections stuff but it is something more than that. The purity of democracy has not been fully understood by the Pakistani nation. In democracy, poor’s have more rights than rich ones as they are in majority and the will of the majority is supreme.

But we only relate democracy to the right of vote, but it is freedom of speech too. We cannot deny the fact that elections process has tremendous affects in a democratic environment as it is the key to magnificent democracy. In democracy an individual has the right to opt their candidate liberally under the supervision of the unbiased government.

In a civilized environment it is the right of an individual to vote in a free environment that is free from any pressure and fair in every manner. This right has been declared in Universal Declaration of Human Rights which is stated in the Article 21 under the constitution of Pakistan that “Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives... The will of people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.”

The basic ingredients to fair elections that are practiced at international level in an ideal environment are that they should be conducted at regular intervals, should be pure as water and privacy to that should not be marked with any irregularities. By regular intervals it means that there should be a particular time frame for that can be either after 4 or 5 years. In here, government of Pakistan rule over 5 years. By purity it means that they should be free and fair by giving equal rights to everyone whether poor or rich or whether living in a rural or urban area. By marking the privacy with no irregularities means that there should be participation in election at maximum level that should be easy to understand, voter registration guide should be provided to the citizens in order to aware them by the process and rules and the eligibility criteria should be bare with minimum lawful restrictions like of age, proof of identity, residence and so on.  The privacy to elections also meant by the principle of secret ballot papers, which make sure that no one except the voter knows the candidate to whom he/she is voting.

This intent to resist fear or any act of vengeance by those who are in power in society either through their political background, administration or financial status.

Question is that which society will make sure these ingredients are the part of their election process?

For all this there should be a strong urge to have an impartial, self governing and sovereign establishment enjoying the reliance of their citizens and political parties. In Pakistan, where its people have faced long periods of dictatorship, the basic ingredient to election process have always been fiddled by the one who are in power to have results according to their desire.

Such attempts have made their people to go down with their trust in the electoral process as well as in democracy too.

Election Campaign of PTI 2013

Pakistan is a democratic social part that is led by the cricketer turned politician Imran khan. PTI is very old party but it was not in that much politics. History of Pakistan has shown us that we’re ruled by same parties over and over again. PTI also did take the time to develop and before lections it become very famous and renowned politician starts to join this party leaving their high profile parties. Like Shah Mehmood Qureshi who was in PPP, he left PPP and join PTI, likewise Javed Hashmi who belongs to PML-N, before elections he also left PML-N and there are many more that left their parties to join PTI. That increases the PR of the PTI before elections and the campaign they conducted were followed by huge number of crowds. The crowd mostly includes the young generation and Imran Khan was leading them.

Imran Khan also decided to have inter-party elections where renowned politician were beaten by the inter-party members. Like Arif Alvi was beaten by Pervez Khattak and Ejaz Chaudhry won against Ahsan Rasheed.

PTI slogan was the “New Pakistan”, with the aim to remove all of the corruption in the society and giving better resources to every civilian. He also point out the family bounded companies politics.

PTI also campaigned on social media where young generation was following him by heart. The other important points of PTI campaign were following:

• War on Terrorism
• Control Private School Fees
• Structuring the Quality of Education
• End Corruption

The hurdles that were face by PTI during elections that Imran fell from 14 ft as he was stepping up on the forklift, the forklift got misbalanced injuring all of the persons that were on that forklift. Imran Khan was badly injured in that incident having two fractures in his spinal column. But PTI handled that too very smartly by having video campaigns of Imran so the generation felt connected with Imran although he was not present with them.

After Elections, PTI standout on the third position. Imran continuously insisted upon the rigging in elections to which the new government didn’t pay attention and forcibly he then conducted protest in different cities across Pakistan but that was also of no use.

For more information, please visit Pakvoter.

Election Campaign of PML-N

Campaign of Election 2013

After the announcement of dissolution of Government and the care-taker Government come in charge, the political parties in Pakistan come in excitement and began to enthuse public. The parties that were in form during election campaigns were PML-N, PTI and PPP. The parties started campaigns before six weeks of elections. The election campaigns were difficult to handle as there was already power shortage in Pakistan.

In this session I am only discussing the campaign of PML-N, however in next session other political parties campaign will also be entertained.

PML-N Campaign

Pakistan Muslim League started its campaign with the motive by lapsing the issue of power crisis, moreover they also emphasis to resolve the issues regarding security, economic development, education, tax and immigration.

Nawaz Sharif led the campaign, who promised to the youth about increasing their chances for being employed from private sector and will help them in opening their businesses. Nawaz Sharif also put emphasis on following points:

• Preservation of environment
• Motorways construction
• Terrorism
• Advancing the public transport
• Economic liberalization

PML-N gain majority votes by the publication of the program named as “Education and Economic boom”, which received huge number of public support from Punjab and from the business community in KHI.

On May 2013, Nawaz sharif declares his victory by giving a speech and become the PM for the third time in the historyof Pakistan after receiving votes from the Parliament. The votes that were given to him in Parliament were 244 out of 342 seats.

Speaking to the broadcasting media he promised the nation that he will soon resolve the issues regarding power, inflation, terrorism and national security so to recover the economic situation of Pakistan.

For more information, please visit Pakvoter.

Election Rigging

Rigging in elections

2013 General elections were held on 11^th of May for the appointment of the 14^th National assembly and the 4 provincial assemblies of the provinces. The procedure for election was conducted in all provinces and in Islamabad that is the Federal Capital territory. The two territories of Pakistan which are Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Blatistan couldn't participate due to their dubious conditions.

The elections were conducted in 272 constituencies out of which 70 seats were reserved to the women belonging parties and the parties from minority group.

General elections in Pakistan have been blemished by claiming of rigging along with the interference of the officialdom. ECP (Election Commission of Pakistan) that is responsible for conducting elections procedure in Pakistan admitted the claims of rigging and the convicted persons on that account were Returning officers according to the ECP.

On 26^th of September ECP was supposed to declare a “disowning” report instead of it declare the map to follow the electoral reorganization. The statements pass by ECP and the present government doesn't match as the government says that the elections in 2013 were the most free and fare elections in the history of Pakistan.

The secretary of EC resigned on the statement that the elections had the most historic rigging in the history of Pakistan that has never been done before.

In the report published by ECP they admitted the rigging and blame the institutes like NADRA, FBR and the State Bank for not cooperating, the returning officer had so much power that he was not liable over the electoral process and the papers of nominations were not properly examine. The report also mentioned the failure of the program “Results Management System” that was organized by the UN Development Program.

The elections soon seem controversial when the chief election commissioner instantly declared the failure of free and fair polls in KHI, which is the largest city in Pakistan having a population of 20 million. The irregularities in the election occurred by not having a record of 139 constituencies. The chief election commissioner claimed that there was extreme intrusion of judiciary. According to the largest media groups of Pakistan Jung and Geo, PML (N) emerged as the Pakistan largest political party followed by PPP and PTI. Although the claims of Jung and Geo confirmed that only 18 % votes were counted.

PTI continuously insisted to have thumb verification in four constituencies the request was rejected by the PML (N), and that make the role of the PML (N) dubious in the elections. Hence PTI conduct rallies for that, which was joined by the PML (Q) and MWM Shia minority.

Other political parties in Pakistan didn't join the march of PTI but they did complain about not having fair elections and also demanded the resignation of election commission members.

Voters Training Guide

Voters Training program

Current situation demands to understand the necessity to ponder the opinion of voters on the point of re-establishment of democracy. For achieving this goal several attempts have been made which includes stating the awareness to vote, providing training & technical knowledge and the cooperation with voters, elected representatives, political parties and the media.

First of all, current circumstances of our country need a responsive leader to hold our country and help the country to move in the pace of melioration. We know that we’re falling behind because our leaders didn't performed their role at all and that is the reason why we’re so behind when all of the countries are living their life with full necessities we’re the one who are stuck in the lines of CNG and Petrol, we are trapped in the load shedding of electricity and Gas. We cannot get out of this until we fully understand our duties and responsibilities. For this a person should be fully aware of the importance and value of his or her vote and that is the reason why voters training programs have been initiated in Pakistan.

For having democracy it requires up to date voters list and full involvement of voters in election procedure plus to cast their vote without any pressure, threats and bullying. Thus voters shall be educated in view of that.

Voters education instigate from recruitment of enlisting their names in the voting list so to cast votes in polling station.

As to install a responsible government voters are required to participate in majority involving every member of their family, friends and neighbors who is not less than 18 years to help bringing the change in the society.

As to make democratic role moving forward to work in an efficient way, responsibilities of elected members and the performance of lawmaking assembly and voters right shall be revealed.

For the creation of democratic environment, congregation between the voters and the political candidates of the national, provincial and local bodies’ government shall be set to make them get to know each other, so they can see each other traits.

For all of this advertisement shall be published in order to familiarize public with this concept and making them aware through that. For this the publications shall be made in Urdu, English and other regional languages that are commonly spoken at that region. Advertisements shall be made also on electronic and print media so that every Pakistani gets aware of this theory. Surveys shall be held in all of the countries especially in urban areas to familiarize them and make them responsible as they cover greater part of our society.

Election is a vital part of the democratic society and that demands pure elections which are without any partiality and rigging. The result of the elections depends upon the polling staff, the political parties’ workers and the voters to know the rules and regulations of the election process.

To establish pure voting system in Pakistan we need to train the polling staff, party workers and voters. The training program includes the enlistment of voters, sustaining and modernizing electoral list, before election irregularities, duties of polling staff, the responsibilities of judiciary, the job of law enforcing organization, the privileges of voters and polling staff, the selection of a proficient candidate , the responsibilities of the political workers, the counting of vote, tabularization of the results and its declaration.

A guide shall be prepared for polling staff for their training that is very important. The training programs of voters shall be telecasted on electronic and print media. The procedure of grounding and allotment of training material shall be computerized through a network countrywide.

For invigilation, proper monitoring through electronic devices shall be done, so to check any rigging in elections. The voters should be guided through the process and issues related to the elections through electronic and print media.