ISLAMABAD, April 28: Speakers at a seminar here described the victory of Maoists in the April 10 constituent assembly elections of Nepal as a good omen for the South Asian region where progressive forces were emerging on the political scene through the power of the ballot.

The suspension of militancy in favour of elections by the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) and winning a resounding victory at the hustings was a unique development that will impact political trends in South Asia, they said.

The speakers said it was no mean achievement that a 240-year- old traditional monarchy with religious trappings was being thrown out to be replaced by a secular democratic government.

Ashfaq Saleem Mirza of South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA), Dr Shaheen Akhtar of the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Afreina Noor of Free and Fair Election Network, (FAFEN), and Aimal Khan of SDPI were the main speakers at the seminar on “Democratic process in South Asia: learning from Nepal” organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on Monday.

Dr Nayyar, presiding over the proceedings, maintained that election results in Nepal were a big political change, as the country would undergo a transition from monarchy to republic through the transformation of the conflict from the bullet to the ballot.

He said it was an encouraging development in South Asia as despite the complex internal politics, Indian influence, and militancy a peaceful and friendly election could be held reflecting the will of the majority of people.

Aimal Khan, who also monitored the Nepali elections as an international observer, said that the landmark constituent assembly (CA) elections on April 10 would have far-reaching impact not only on Nepal’s socio-political landscape but also on regional politics where except for India, democracy was very weak, and people were engaged in struggles against their rulers for ushering true and genuine democracy.

Mr Khan said that the unprecedented struggle for democracy in Nepal presented a unique example as the country was set to end the monarchy and establish a federal republic. He said that the CA elections were primarily aimed at forming a constituent assembly to draft a constitution and determine the contours of Nepal’s political system with an estimated 10.5 million people taking part out of 17.6 million voters.

“No doubt Nepal is emerging as the vanguard of democratic reform and political transformation in the region, which has generated immense interest in the world in general and in South Asian countries, in particular”, Mr Khan observed.

Giving a brief account of leftist movements in South Asia, Ashfaq Saleem Mirza, however, differed with the prevailing optimism among South Asians with regard to the outcome of elections in Nepal as well as in Pakistan.

Talking of Nepal, he said that the recent victory of the CPN- Maoist and their allies was basically a direct result of the anti-monarch feelings. The people see the king as pro-Indian and hold him responsible for increased Delhi influence and physical presence in Nepal.

He maintained that genuine democracy did not suit the interests of imperial powers and whenever they were confronted with a situation like Nepal and Pakistan’s they try to dilute the people’s mandate and prospects for democracy through different campaigns and intrigues.

Talking of post-election situations in Nepal and Pakistan, he said that the opposition in Nepal had already started telling winning parties not to engage themselves in the process of government formation, instead only introduce the new constitution as the elections were held for the Constituent Assembly (CA) and were not the general elections.

The ongoing tug of war among coalition partners in Pakistan for the restoration of deposed judges was also another evidence of efforts to weaken the newly formed government and democratic process, he said.

Dr Shaheen Akhtar said that the traumatic outcome of elections in Nepal dominated by the anti-monarchy vote has amazed the Maoists themselves, neighbouring India and also America as each of them have different stakes in the landlocked strategically located Nepal.

She, however, said that the real challenges for the winning Maoists and their coalition parties would be formation of a stable democratic government to transform the country into a federal republic, rewriting of constitution, economic and social stability and of course tackling of Indian and American worries as both were extremely upset with the elections’ outcome with consequent challenges to their interests in Nepal as well as in the region.

Dr Akhtar underscored that Nepal’s experience of transformation from insurgency to democracy should be a way forward for the other countries in South Asia especially Pakistan in dealing with the undemocratic forces, conflict areas, sustainable peace and for the development of the nation and country which suffers from poverty and illiteracy.

Afreina Noor, who also monitored the Nepali elections, shared a brief note on the campaigning process by the political parties, poll-day situation and over all environment of the electoral process.

She said that these elections were held in a very good manner in the Nepali context and prevailing electoral standards adding that there was no vigorous campaigning by the political parties but satisfactory arrangements were in place by the election commission on election day while people were in a festive mood as they had come out from their houses even before the voting time and standing happily in long queues to cast their vote. This trend was more apparent among women, she added.