Saturday, Mar 30, 2013
The security situation in Pakistan merits concern, especially with the election campaign gathering momentum before the polls on May 11. Sporadic attacks targeting the police, security forces and influential figures are nothing new, but a recent rise in such incidents before elections portends greater instability. The suicide attack on the Frontier Constabulary convoy in Peshawar on Friday that killed 12 people, including women, and another attack in Mardan in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province yesterday that killed a policemen and injured six are indicative of a resurgence in terrorist activities.
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure a stable and secure environment to facilitate the democratic process. The coming elections are significant in terms of consolidating the democratic system of government. No doubt that the completion of a full five-year term for the outgoing Pakistan Peoples Party led government is a triumph of democracy, a first for any elected setup in the country. Yet the road ahead is littered with challenges.
The caretaker setup of Mir Hazar Khan Khoso faces some tough tasks, including supervising free and fair elections, managing state affairs in the interim period and safeguarding security. Many politicians as well fear for their lives. Public rallies are part and parcel of the election campaign and there is a high chance of terrorists targeting such gatherings. It has been reported in some sections of the Pakistan media that the government may call on the army to provide additional security cover for the elections. It is therefore important for the government to lay down guidelines for electioneering and implement strict rules for the sake of public security.
The caretaker government also bears the responsibility to stay impartial and not get involved in any power wrangling between different parties at any cost. Similarly, other institutions like the presidency, the military and the intelligence services must also stay above political dealings and allow the process to take its natural course. It is up to the people to decide who to trust with leading them over the next five years.
Gulf News
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