Beyond all the despair about rigged elections and other such very real fears, the positive side of it is that the 2008 elections – if held freely and fairly and that is a big IF- can turn out to be a landmark in Pakistan's history not just for the importance Pakistan has today in world affairs butbecause the complete rout of theocratic politics it promises to bring forth. For the first time since the introduction of the "Islamic" constitution of 1973, these elections promise to be fought around an agenda that has to do more with democracy, social welfare and minorities rights- ideas that were central to the very creation of Pakistan in 1947. There are five parties that promise to dominate these elections. These parties are:
Pakistan People's Party
Pakistan Muslim League- Q
Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz
Awami National Party
Mutahidda Qaumi Movement
Out of these PPP, PML-Q and PML-N are parties that claim with varying degrees of truth to their claim to be national and federal parties. A curious alliance of the landed gentry, left-leaning city intellectual and to a certain extent secular-minded Pakistani nationalists, PPP's claim is the strongest as it has a significant electoral base in Sindh and Punjab with smaller but resilient pockets in NWFP and Balochistan. PPP has fielded 778 candidates in National and provincial assemblies of Pakistan.
PML-Q- which is the re-incarnation of the age-old Unionist Party- is a winner's club with some right wingers, land owners and industrialists along with a few progressives here and there backed by the establishment- has a strong base in Punjab but smaller yet significant support in the rest of the provinces. It has fielded close to 600 candidates in the National and provincial assemblies of Pakistan ...