While preparations for the elections are in full swing, a serious question is being discussed in significant circles: Will the elections take place? There are three reasons why this question is arising in our vicinity.
The first reason is that martial law is always imposed in Pakistan when Republicans are in power in the United States. Despite our claims that we dismantled the hybrid system through ‘struggle and effort,’ the reality is that the hybrid system collapsed because Trump, i.e., the Republicans, couldn’t secure a second term in the United States.
If Trump had won in 2020, individuals like Bajwa and Faiz Hamid would not have been able to create any disturbance. The current situation indicates that Trump’s victory in the November elections in the United States is highly likely. The situations in Ukraine and Israel have undermined Biden, which implies that our ISI might be involved in military interventions, causing ‘spiritual effects’ of unrest to spill outside.
The second reason is that political principles are well-rooted in the minds that party leaders can gracefully accept both victory and defeat in normal circumstances. It means that they lead the party, and if the party loses, they gracefully accept the defeat temporarily. However, it is unacceptable for them to win the party and then be ousted. This is evident in the case of Mian Azhar. After what happened to him did Mian Azhar ever reappear on the political scene? This means that if any party leader senses a potential threat to his leadership, even if the party could win, he will try everything to ensure the party does not win, and the game goes awry. The option of remaining in the opposition is acceptable for the leader, but if the party comes to power, and the party leader is out, it is an unacceptable option.
Mian Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz was also given this offer before the 2018 elections: ‘Step aside, let someone else come, and we will not create any issues in the Noon League’s results.’ But Mian Sahib did not agree. So, Imran Khan became the only option. Now, the current situation is that Imran Khan is afraid that by giving some suitable seats to his party in this election, he may not be ousted himself. Therefore, participating in the current election, accepting the results, may not be acceptable to him. Khan’s preference would be not to boycott so that there remains a belief that we are present in the field.
The third reason for doubts and suspicions regarding the elections is some Patwari villagers who are still benefiting from the current government’s jobs in PTI. Mian Nawaz Sharif could clearly see that when PTI is facing criticism in the country, his return in such an environment would automatically create the impression that the establishment is behind his return.
To eliminate this impression, a cheap tactic was adopted to create continuous YouTube videos by Patwari YouTubers who continuously spread baseless claims that Nawaz Sharif still does not accept the establishment. The establishment is still trying to run the government through some other Patwari. Even though it is nonsense, Nawaz Sharif did not benefit from this nonsense. So, the uncertainty that he would face in politics after becoming convinced of his political isolation may now be paid off.
The fourth reason related to elections is that Nawaz Sharif is a problematic figure for the establishment. Whether he wins or loses, it does not matter; the establishment is entirely indifferent. It means that the establishment is still in control, whether Nawaz Sharif becomes Prime Minister or not. The consequences of considering oneself as a big shot will have to be faced.
The fifth reason for skepticism and suspicion about elections is that the PML-N is surprising. If they intentionally take actions that cast doubts on the conduct of the elections and create suspicions, will their worker fight with full force? Will political activities be energetic and full of vitality? Will the country gain stability after the elections?
Therefore, questions arise from Nawaz Sharif: Why do you want to keep the country in continuous uncertainty? Don’t you know that the people are in distress? And the solution to their problems lies in political stability? The question to Nawaz Sharif is, why do you want to keep the country in a state of continuous uncertainty? Don’t you know that the people are facing difficulties? And the solution to their problems lies in political stability?”
