(Bilal ul Abedin, Karachi)
Before 11 May elections, analysts & Pakistani people were considering this elections as most important primarily because of the desire of people to change Pakistan. Media was giving so much hype, Election Commission, probably for the first time in Pakistan, was considered to be independent & impartial with the appointment of Justice Retd. Fakhruddin G Ebrahim as Chief Election Commissioner unanimously welcomed by all political parties. A relatively new party PTI energizes people particularly youth during its aggressive election campaign along with competitors Shareef Brothers. The incident of Imran Khan falling from lifter over his head just few days before election was likely to add sympathy to IK popularity & chances of IK to become next Prime Minister come out bright. A lot of questions arose on the fairness of electoral process, from scrutiny of candidates on the basis of Article 62 & 63 of the Constitution till the holding of elections & announcement of results. Despite of huge election campaign, PTI who, before elections, claimed to be a party of federation & change was restricted by people to Khyber Pakthunkhua & some constituencies of Punjab where mostly "Electibles" won their seats. Though PTI has not achieved much as expected but it emerged as a strong political party with a support of huge number of people throughout Pakistan and formed provincial government in KP as well. PTI was going to put an end to customary politics but in my opinion, in some ways they have succeeded while in some ways they haven't. For example, bringing democracy within party by conducting Intra party elections & giving chance to young & educated middle class to compete with feudal & come in National Assembly, leadership is charismatic with a bright past, not willing to do power politics & compromise on objectives, anxious for solving people problems through highlighting corruptions & flaws in prevailing judicial & economic system, making people out to vote who were least bothered about Pakistan previously etc. strengthens above argument of putting an end to customary politics. On the other hand, nominating Pervez Khatak as Chief Minister KP who joined PTI after changing two parties & became provincial assembly member & minister many times despite of having PTI KP President Asad Qaiser & many new chunks elected from KP, making extreme accusations & allegations on MQM Head for the killing of Zahra Shahid Hussain in Karachi & PML-N for doing manipulation in elections in Punjab are things that negates above said argument. PTI has to do a lot if it really wants to put an end to Customary politics it would have to avoid things done by political parties in past that malign Politics & so the Pakistan.