As the electioneering entered the active phase both the ruling PPP and the nine-party alliance Pakistan National Alliance (PNA) began their efforts to woo as many voters as they could. However, the role of the Election Commission could not be overlooked. It had to be cautious. The PNA was shocked at the failure in pitching their candidate against Z.A. Bhutto from Larkana, but there were other complaints of a similar nature. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) was bound to settle and satisfy all of them.

The CEC Justice Sajjad Ahmad Jan was a man of impeccable reputation who did not want to create an unpleasant situation, especially when the PPP and the opposition were on their way to a direct collision. After the filing of nomination papers, a number of complaints regarding irregularities in the process reached him which he had to resolve. The date for receiving such complaints was fixed as Jan 30. On many seats he accepted the PNA’s claims. On Feb 11 he announced the final decision on Bhutto’s Larkana seat declaring him elected unopposed.

Despite the government’s repeated assurances that the poll process would be completely impartial, the opposition leaders and workers continued to lament the government’s illegalities. The process continued unabated.

Perhaps very few leaders in the PPP had assessed the rising popularity of the PNA, which could be witnessed through the increasing interest of the people in the PNA; it could be termed as a rejection of PPP policies during the past five years. The inner cabinet continued to express its jubilation whenever a landlord or a tribal chief got PPP membership and a ticket. However, it did not affect the growing presence of the people in the PNA meetings and rallies. The PPP government had imposed quite a few restrictions on conducting election campaigns; however, these began to break down as the campaign began to pick up momentum. The PPP manifesto released on Jan 24 had nothing new except the pledges every aspiring party can make; in contrast, the PNA had a lot to criticise the five-year rule of the PPP-led government and a few pledges, especially introducing Nizam-i-Mustafa.

During these rallies, Asghar Khan of Tehreek-i-Istiqlal gained much popularity, especially in Karachi — where many communities are settled and which was a base for important political decisions. It is interesting to note that the former air chief had gained popularity in political circles since the East Pakistan debacle, but he had yet to ascertain the line of action he wished to follow. He had one more thing to his disadvantage, ie like many aspiring leaders he had an intrinsic optimism, rather misconception, about himself that he could relieve the nation of all miseries. This was a good presumption but it also gave birth to certain misgivings about him. When he arrived at Karachi on Feb 20 he was welcomed by a huge crowed, perhaps unprecedented in Asghar Khan’s life, due to which he began to think that he could replace Bhutto. Perhaps it was a wrong assumption.

The PNA had decided to contest on 168 seats out of 200 seats, while the PPP had pitched 191 candidates. The PML (Qayyum) had nominated 37 candidates, while there was a huge army of 324 independents in the run. The PNA had decided not to contest from Balochistan as the law and order situation did not allow them to carry out the campaign, leaving the ground open to the PPP and splinter groups.

Large public rallies were held by both the parties, especially in nerve centres like Karachi and Lahore. On the day Asghar Khan was being received in Karachi by a huge crowd, Bhutto landed at Lahore to address a public meeting. It was a huge rally and sent a message of reassurance to his party men. It also sent a message to the PNA. For both the contesting parties there was no appropriate standard of assessing each other’s popularity but by any standard the attendance at the rallies was even-handed.

During the last few days, Bhutto appeared tired amid demands from his inner cabinet for more appearances at public rallies. A particular case was the March 4 public meeting at which Bhutto did not appear. On that day he opted to take account of the situation and cross-check the notes of his lieutenants.

Reports of small scale skirmishes between the political supporters did not make any difference to the election campaign as no major incident took place to affect the process; however, the PNA had complaints that its rallies were being disturbed by the ruling party. As a protest against this, the PNA resorted to a strike on Feb 28 demanding that high-grade officers be appointed to oversee the election.

shaikhaziz38@gmail.com