Pakistan Bans Sharif from Ballot

The rigging of next month’s presidential election in Pakistan took a big step forward yesterday when the Electoral Commission banned former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from running along with his brother Shahbaz. The ban stems from previous corruption charges that the former PM claims are politically motivated. The fact that he’s the man against whom President Musharraf mounted his coup also has a lot to do with it.

According to the Electoral Commission, Mr. Sharif is free to appeal the ban, but he has to put his case before an electoral tribunal composed of judges who swore allegiance to Mr. Musharraf following the just-lifted state of emergency. Mr. Sharif knows that the independence of Pakistan’s judiciary is no more. He refuses to appeal to the provisional constitutional order judges.

So, there is no longer a three-way race in Pakistan, more like two-and-a-half. Mr. Musharraf’s crew will face former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party [PPP], and the decapitated Pakistan Muslim League (N) of Mr. Sharif. While there is little enthusiasm for Mr. Musharraf outside the military and local traditional chiefs, he does control the machinery of the election. At best, Pakistan will have a hung parliament. At worst, it will be stolen for Mr. Musharraf.

What is particularly sad is that none of the three cam be called "committed to democracy." Their deeds belie their lovely words. Mr. Musharraf’s case is the most clear. He staged a military coup, purged the judiciary of its independence and has placed Mrs. Bhutto and others under house arrest during the most recent state of emergency – apparently fearing they would stage protests. Mrs. Bhutto’s two terms in government both ended with powerful charges of corruption, suggesting she is more interested in lining her pockets than a decent democracy.

And then there is Mr. Sharif. His February 1997 election showed him taking 90% of the vote. This is simply not credible given the popularity in many quarters of the PPP and Mrs. Bhutto. Rigging elections is something that democrats just don’t do. There are no democrats leading any of Pakistan’s major factions. This doesn't bode well for those dedicated to a modern, free Pakistan; the Fascislamists are delighted.

© Copyright 2007 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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