A DEBATE is under way among the intelligentsia, TV anchors and columnists of the country that politics is changing. The next general election would bring an honest and dedicated leadership into power, which would take the nation on new socioeconomic and political horizons.

Giving arguments that as the Election Commission of Pakistan is an independent and competent organisation, a free and fair election is expected to be held for the first time in the country. And this would certainly be helpful in laying the foundation of the political sphere where there would be no place for a corrupt and inefficient leadership.

Of course, a free and fair election is important for competent and honest leadership to come into power. If the Eelection Commission could successfully hold a fair and free election, it would certainly have a long – lasting impact on the power politics, as well as on the nation’s future socioeconomic and political landscape.

But the ground reality speaks otherwise. The majority of the people has still not realised the importance of vote. It is not interested in casting votes, including a large number of the educated class.

The mindset of the majority of rural voters has still not changed owing to inaccessibility of the current media outlets.

The recent disastrous floods have also almost paralysed and limited the rural majority voters’ choices and left them at
the mercy of the feudals to obey orders to elect the candidates backed them.

The reconciliation policy amongst political parties for protecting their vested interests has further confused the people about voting for new and inexperienced candidates.

The middle class has also not played any encouraging role as a ‘change agent’ but just wastes its time and energies criticising other parties.

There is a need to re-link the missing line of change. The middle and the working class should collectively work for a genuine change rather than waste time on criticising others. They should field competent candidates so as to change the rotten political status quo in order to move on to a just society.

NISAR A. BROHI                                
Nawabshah