‘Significance of China’s Recent Indo Pak Visit’

While on his four-nation tour, the Chinese (newly elected) Premier Li Keqiang first reached India for his three day visit, and then  along with his team he left for his next stop over in Pakistan - followed by his continuing onward to Switzerland and Germany respectively.

Besides signing new agreements and memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the soils of India and Pakistan, China showed its seriousness in resolving and overcoming the issues including the territorial ones.

Since China is in a position to allow or disallow a permanent seat on the UN Security Council which India desperately craves for, India can’t exercise any option against China. Quite obviously, India has to play its cards cautiously within a tight manoeuvring space. Chinese un-supportiveness and India’s related discomfort level is understandable.

However, Premier Li spoke in rosy terms of a “strategic partnership” between India and China.

And despite the freshly resolved issue of “Depsang Valley,” maintenance of peace and tranquillity on the line of actual control (LAC) was on top of the agenda between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Premier Li.

Obviously, if the disputed LAC remains unresolved, trade and economic ties can’t proceed further so qualitatively.

A marvellous outcome of the meeting between two leaders was felt when premier Li stressed on the need to work as regional and global partners.

On the other hand, Pakistan and China as friendly neighbours have five decades long strategic partnership whereby both of them have always been willing to maintain a strong defence relationship. Li’s current visit is just a sign of goodwill as being a part of the ‘continuum’ to continue improving the bilateral relations. Furthermore, China’s offer to act as an arbiter in Kashmir dispute is a beautiful thing, yet it is dependent upon India’s acquiescence.

Of course, a two-day visit made a lot of difference in terms of improvement of already existing political, economic and strategic relations between the two exemplary neighbours. China reaffirmed that its relationship with Pakistan was always a priority in its foreign policy and appreciated Pakistan's long-term reliable support on issues concerning China's core interests.

In fact, the visit served as a solid reaffirmation and reinforcement of the commendable ties.

At a special ceremony, Pakistan and china were signatory to several agreements of economic, social, political and strategic importance

Thanks to Premier Li for having listed his cooperation in “power generation” on a priority basis. That should assist the incoming government of Pakistan to end the plague of severe load-shedding at the earliest to let the wheels of industry move on without any further delay, so that Pakistan begins enjoying its economic revival.

Furthermore, the friendly neighbours agreed to cement their strategic partnership as well as deepen comprehensive strategic cooperation in many areas.

Premier Li called Pakistan “Iron Brother” implying that the ties between the two neighbours were on a sound and unshakeable footing. In Islamabad, he was pleased to declare that the agreement between the two countries would establish a common economic corridor.

But India doesn’t seem to be too pleased with Li’s two-day visit to Pakistan that soon, but the fact of the matter is - the visiting dignitary emphasised that Beijing treated both as important neighbours. The gesture here is development of ties with India should not undermine its close traditional relationship with Pakistan.

By the way, the Global Times, a tabloid run by the Chinese Communist Party wrote in an editorial last Thursday, “India must accept and adapt to the enviable friendship between China and Pakistan, which is not aimed at any third party and has no upper limit”. “China,” it said, “cannot scale down this relationship merely because of India’s feelings.” The editorial wrote further, “developing friendly cooperation with both India and Pakistan meets the interests of China, as well as the interests of the whole region.”

Sadly, India has often put its full diplomatic pressure in an effort to stop the development of cooperation between Pakistan and China.

On the contrary, Pakistan is never irked by any development of closer ties between China and India.

But China’s involvement in projects in Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Chinese-assisted project for upgrading the Karakoram Highway, plans for a possible Railway link between the Xinjiang province and Pakistan usually make Indians angry. Even the announcement of a long-term project for the development of an “economic corridor” linking Pakistan with the central and western parts of China is not welcome by India.

Gawadar port, highways and Railway links provide guarantee of economic prosperity to Pakistan while China will be taking advantage of a new alternative route for the supply of oil and gas from the Middle East.

"The relationship between India and China has grown broader while the Sino-Pakistan relations have gained depth," said the tabloid daily attached to the ruling Communist Party of China.

There are other factors such as militancy in Baluchistan, in Karachi, the negative scenario of the upcoming “post withdrawal era” in Afghanistan and the region that need to be looked at in advance.

Nevertheless, China is a role model for the developing countries; is interested in a prosperously vibrant Pakistan. Certainly, Pakistan will be an emerging market for a large number of Chinese companies. Indeed an economically vibrant Pakistan will be contributive to geopolitical balance in South Asia.

Despite the challenges, Pakistan and India should let the current window of opportunity stay open. With friendly environment, Pakistan, India and the entire region stand to gain a lot.

"Status Quo Friendly" Pak Polls

It’s estimated that 36 million electors out of the 86 million were newly registered, and 60 per cent turnout of voters is surely a significant sign that people are sick and tired of the stinky status quo of bad governance and rampant corruption.

Unfortunately, Imran Khan’s political tsunami has bypassed the whole country, yet it reached the North, where the residents seriously welcomed the “anti status quo” tsunami. Miraculously, the Pashtun population succeeded in protecting its mandate from getting stolen.

If the PTI makes the next government in the province of KP, it would have five years to do the repair and present a model to the rest of the country. This province is also blessed with natural resources, oil, gas, coal reserves, and huge hydropower potential.

Bringing peace will surely attract foreign investors to the province ushering in a new era of prosperity under the PTI government for people of the province.

Sadly, election 2013 was a day of massive rigging -specifically in Punjab and Sindh, because according to convincing evidence there was a negative scenario where the turnout even exceeded 100% reaching 300% suggesting nothing but a ballot stuffing illegality.

Among the other severe scenarios were the voting at gun point, violence, and other intended clerical irregularities encouraging “incomplete-vote-casting” aimed at adding to unacceptable ballots in order to give unfair benefit to the vested interests.

Despite all this, the Pakistan Muslim League (N) went ahead delivering its “acceptance speech” and announced Nawaz Sharif as its new Prime Minister, wonderful!

Just imagine the over-excited winners didn’t even wait for the official announcement by the Election Commission of Pakistan. And, congratulations already started pouring in from foreign lands-wow!

Furthermore, the Media hype and TV channels’ announcing results before the “voting-time-deadline” was a little bit too much, as that amounts to manipulation through robbing the independent thoughts of the electors. Obviously, if the “political free will” gets compromised this way, then where is the free and fair election?

Having emerged as a winner party, the PML-N faces a lot of tough challenges ahead.

Rescuing the drowning economy, tailoring foreign relations in the best interests of Pakistan are quite difficult ones.

And, dealing with three different provincial governments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Baluchistan will not be that easy either.

Since the PML(N) has rich repeaters who have wealth of experience as well, certainly, there will be a strategy in place. However, prioritizing the targets will still be needed.

Starting with correcting the electricity shortage as number one priority, the new regime will have to fix terrorism and the law and order situation to revive the economic health of the country on a faster track.

Furthermore, for facilitating effective governance, a reasonably tailored cabinet is urgently needed for delivery to the impatient public whose tolerance level seems to be around zero.

The problem is when it comes to appointing Ministers, accommodating party office bearers and political allies will be a real fun for Nawaz Sharif unless he plays political maneuver skilfully.

Question is whether the PML (N) is going to eliminate the status quo of VIP culture and other corruption culture as well as disallow a lavish spending on privileges to the parliamentarians and the office bearers. Answer is “no” because change of mindset can’t be expected at this point in time.

Tradition of Rigging: No matter what, generally greed becomes the motivating factor overtaking one’s conscience; hence the evil leads the contestants to win by hooks or by crooks. Many videos can be viewed on social network confirming rigging of the polls.

On the other hand, PTI leaders claim the party would emerge victorious if free and fair re-election is conducted in NA-250. PTI supporters in Lahore demanded a transparent re-election in NA-122 and NA-125.

While the senior PTI leader Hamid Khan said he would lodge a complaint with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against election rigging across Punjab. “We will not allow those who stole our mandate to live peacefully,” he said while talking to participants of the sit-in. He claimed the results were changed in many constituencies and maintains that PML-N did carry out rigging across Punjab. Also, the PTI Chairperson has already demanded a fresh re-count of the votes in the disputed constituencies.

So far, the ECP has decided to go ahead with re-election in NA 250 on 19 May.
Painful reality remains - either the morally bankrupt politicians are blind and cannot learn from the consequences faced by the past wrongdoers, or they don’t give a damn to ethical values; thus prefer ignoring the rules, law and the constitution.

Again, the protesters are out there on the streets doing limited sit-ins against the massive rigging in the recent elections. In central and rural Punjab the same reports are emerging.

Failure of the ECP is sad of course. If the army and rangers were deployed in sensitive areas, then what did stop them from moving against the culprits?

Currently, the country is going through tough financial problems of its own, and IMF installment is due soon so it cannot bear the cost of re-election. But, there is a positive effect  of May 11 Pak election on the stock market. Furthermore, Nawaz Sharif’s visit to Imran Khan in the hospital is positive news in the right direction.

The lessons learnt from the said election exercise are useful for improvement.

Indeed with time comes the political and democratic maturity

Issue of Turnout

Pakistani Canadians residing in British Columbia are currently in a state of emotional discomfort as the general elections in Pakistan and provincial election in British Columbia are hardly three days apart.

Those voting in Pakistan general elections cannot return to Canada on time as many hours of flight time and jet lag would most probably disable them from becoming active enough to participate in the election process in British Columbia on May14.

Similarly, the British Columbians of Pakistani origin cannot elect any politician to the provincial and national assembly of Pakistan, as no system is in place to allow distance voting from abroad.

On the contrary, many people just don't bother voting as they are devoid of the needed political sense. It’s the “political awareness/will” that makes much of a difference for sake of common national interest.

The ignoring attitude towards politics is one of the factors responsible for keeping the turnout lower.

The past experience shows that the voter turnout tends to be lowest among the youth, the illiterates and the poor.

When the contestants are of no integrity, and the political parties fail to persuade the potential voters with their platform or manifesto, the turnout is bound to be low. Eventually, ‘trust deficit’ develops due to non delivery by the politicians during their tenure in public office. This scenario keeps the voters away from casting their ballot.

Nevertheless, low voter turnout is good for the insincere and inefficient politicians. That simply means the flawed democratic system doesn’t reflect the interests of all citizens. And, the low turnout cannot be other than some kind of political strategy where the political parties intentionally keep the voters away from ballot boxes using negative ads against the opponents.

The practice of demoralizing through criticising their leaders is meant to change opinions of the potential opposition supporters (voters).

In fact, some stakeholders are interested to control the media, and they also finance the political parties of their choice just to carry on with their dirty politics of fear aimed at dividing the electorate.

The fact is election does provide an opportunity to the people to voice their free opinion and make their needs known under the law and the constitution of the land. Truth is our vote is our voice, thus we must be heard, loud and clear.

“Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.” ― Abraham Lincoln

Indeed, the youth of today are more knowledgeable and better connected regardless of ethnic background. They are also more adaptable to progressive change. Surely, they have a positive role to play for their better future.

Using the election route is the best opportunity to filter out the rogue politicians and pick up just the good elite only. Obviously, the cheaters/repeaters stand no chance as they are rejected through free and fair ballot process. But if the crooks still make it through the lack of vigilance on the part of voters or through using pressure tactics, then they have their own hidden agenda instead of serving the constituents.

That’s why; the voters must reject the dishonest candidates without fear of reprisals.

The dirty politicians can’t be allowed to play racial ethnicity or using religion in order to create confusion or otherwise manipulate the voters.

The people, wherever they are, they must use their “democratic vote power” to oust coercion, manipulation, discrimination in any form including Islamophobia and the dirty politics.

Just the honest and capable candidates should be voted in to allow a healthy democratic process at all levels including provincial and the national ones.

Since the youth of today are leaders of tomorrow; they must come out and exercise their right of vote.

An overhaul of the flawed system can address the issue of lower turnout.

Unfairness towards Pakistanis expatriates: It’s extremely frustrating that more than four million forgotten patriotic Pakistanis (expats) have to live abroad for economic reasons. Despite their marvellous economic contribution through remittances, they are excluded from the electoral process for no fault of theirs.

In this regard, the supreme court of Pakistan recently pointed out that the Pakistani community based overseas was extremely eager to vote.

A three member bench headed by the CJP Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry heard the case pertaining to giving overseas Pakistanis the right to vote. The ECP has already unanimously decided that the federation of Pakistan would propose the required legislation to give overseas Pakistanis the right to vote, adding that it was not possible to provide the facility for the upcoming general elections. (Pak Channels).

Of course, many expats take keen interest in Pakistan; they donated generously during times of floods & earthquakes. They support Pakistani charities and make the national economy running through remittances. If such is the case, they deserve to be entitled to vote too. Unfortunately, the expats cannot vote in the upcoming election without a temporary legislation in place.

The ground reality about Pakistan is “the rising election fever grips Pakistan, so does the terrorism.” Under the circumstances, many potential voters would prefer to stay indoors to avoid risk to their lives. The election commission of Pakistan (ECP) says, “The candidates should be provided with an atmosphere in which they can conduct their campaigns without any fear.” The ECP is concerned over the attacks on election offices and candidates. The expected Poll Day violence poses serious threat to the voting public.

As expected, the presence of Pak army troops would encourage a high voter turnout and that can easily produce a good legislature in the federation and in all provinces as well. The expats may contribute further by convincing their loved ones back home to fully participate in the electoral process on May 11, so that the people friendly governments and the legislatures are formed.

It’s about time for the British Columbians and for the Pakistanis to keep awake and be vigilant when it comes to holding the candidates accountable through vote on May 11 (Pak elections) and May 14 (B.C. elections) respectively.

A positive environment consisting of educated and politically aware people is a must to generate the best voter turnout.