May 9 events, must not impede election

Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has recently said the incidents of May 9 were still being investigated and action should be taken against those involved in that anti-state violence. According to him, many persons were still avoiding the courts and were in hiding, now they face hurdles in carrying out their political activities and election campaigns regarding the upcoming general election in the country. Kakar categorically mentioned that the people of Pakistan would elect their representatives on February 8 and his government would carry out a peaceful transfer of power to them in due course of time.

The regretful events of the May 9 mob riots and violence are still calls to the public minds and many of the perpetrators remained in hiding over the past several months to elude justice and accountability. However, after the election season began and several political groups lined up for the nationwide polls, various PTI leaders who were previously deserters have now appeared on the political scene by submitting their nomination papers from respective constituencies. Presently, numerous PTI leaders including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Hammad Azhar, and others have been barred from the election in certain constituencies or facing serious obstacles in carrying out their election campaigns, whilst the ECP has rejected the nomination papers of certain leaders due to their involvement in the May 9 violence, on technical or legal grounds, etc.

Unfortunately, a deplorable narrative was crafted by the PTI leadership regarding the no-confidence motion, a legal/constitutional political process that led to the ouster of the PTI government and the events thereafter which completely subverted the innocent party workers/ supporters who unashamedly waged war against the state and institutions in the blind following of their leadership. Although a majority of the PTI leaders condemned the May 9 violence afterward, expressed remorse, and disassociated themselves from the party in a show up of their solidarity with the state and national Institutions, however many others persistently stuck to their narrative and defended their condemnable actions against the state. Those actions and hateful events were a manifestation of the political immaturity of the PTI leadership which attracted worldwide criticism from human rights groups, civil society, INGOs, media, and political activists in the country and abroad along with earning a bad name for the country.

Currently, the cases of May 9 rioters are under trial in the courts that will surely dispense legitimate justice by inflicting exemplary punishments on the culprits. Realistically, riots, violence, and anti-state activities such as attacks on military installations and the disgrace of Martyers memorials are serious crimes that merit strict handling and stern action against the perpetrators whatever disguise they use. Politics has no space for violence and hate while no political group or politician can use violence and street power as a tool for achieving its/his political objectives. All citizens are equal and state law is equally applicable to all individuals irrespective of their position, political status, or party affiliation. Meanwhile, no political group or leader can claim impunity from legal prosecution or demand a lax application of the law based on his popularity, fame, or political stature.

At the same time, the PTI’s complaints regarding no provision of a level playing field in the upcoming election must be given due importance as party leaders’ having no blame for political violence must avail full freedom and unhindered rights of election campaigns without any bias or prejudice from any state institutions. It is the primary responsibility of the ECP and the caretaker setup to ensure equal treatment and opportunities for all political parties and candidates to conduct free, fair, and transparent polls, so a healthy political process begins and the nation moves toward political stability and calm.