With the filing of nomination papers, the process of holding the next general elections is well under way. All major political leaders as well the second rankers all across Pakistan have announced their candidature from the constituencies of their choice. Chief among those who have done so include PML-N head Nawaz Sharif, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and PTI founder Imran Khan. Shehbaz Sharif, Pervez Elahi, Aleem Khan and others are also in the run.

But it has not been all smooth sailing for the PTI which is under pressure from the powers that be. It is not without reason that PTI leaders have been complaining about the lack of a level playing field. As things stand, the PTI will be taking part in the elections without its signature symbol ‘bat’, because the Election Commission of Pakistan declared its intra-party polls “unconstitutional” and revoked its claim on its popular electoral symbol. PTI activists have termed the decision part of the “London Plan” and a “disgusting and shameful attempt to stop the party from participating in the elections.” They have claimed that the party would still win the general elections, as they would appeal the decision at every forum.

On the other hand, the PML-N which enjoys open-ended favours from the incumbent authorities is beset with the twin problem of seat adjustment with like-minded parties as well intra-party rifts, rivalries and dissensions. According to knowledgeable sources, the Istehkam e Pakistan Party has become a pain in the neck for the PML-N because it is demanding a large number of seats in Punjab, causing friction between the two. The PML-N leadership is interested in doling out only a handful of seats to the IPP.

IPP’s information secretary, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, recently claimed that the party had sought 40 National and 70 provincial assembly seats from the Sharif brothers. The PML-N is apprehensive that those electables who will be denied tickets under seat-adjustment deals with the IPP might contest independently as they have their own vote bank in the respective constituencies. It is also said that the PML-N is not in a position to oblige IPP patron-in-chief Jahangir Tareen and president Aleem Khan for their seats in Lodhran and Lahore respectively, where the PML-N has strong winning candidates. Besides, the PML-Q of Chaudhry Shujaat Husain has sought 14 seats from the PML-N. But the party has told the PML-Q that it is ready to give a maximum of three seats only.

Another headache for the PML-N leadership is the internal disputes over the allocation of party tickets, particularly in Punjab. Former minister Daniyal Aziz recently launched an attack against PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal and Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb over inflation and poor communication strategy during the 16-month rule of the Shehbaz Sharif-led Pak­istan Democratic Movement. Aziz is reported to be unhappy with the party leadership for ignoring him over the past five years and he also wants a provincial assembly ticket for a person of his choice, while Ahsan Iqbal wants his son to contest from the same constituency in Narowal for the upcoming polls.

According to media reports, in some constituencies in Punjab, there has been a tough competition between the “favourites” of PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and the party’s chief organiser, Maryam Nawaz. For instance, in Jaranwala’s NA-76 constituency, Maryam supports Talal Chaudhry, while Shehbaz Sharif endorses Malik Nawab Sher Waseer, a former MNA who defected from the PTI. A similar situation prevails in Gujranwala, where the Shehbaz group backs the party’s deputy secretary general Attaullah Tarar, and the Maryam group supports former MNA Mehmood Bashir Virk for being a long-standing party member.

In Lahore, the redrawing of electoral boundaries has caused a dilemma for the leadership, particularly affecting two party heavyweights, Ayaz Sadiq and Sheikh Rohail Asghar. Also in Lahore, Ali Pervaiz Malik, who won the last election on the previous NA-127 constituency, has been asked to surrender this seat for Maryam Nawaz, In Bahawalpur’s NA-172 constituency, Maryam was not in favour of obliging PML-Q’s Tariq Bashir Cheema as she wanted to accommodate party loyalist Saud Majid.

It is clear that the process of political engineering is in full swing to manipulate the results of the next elections. We have seen before in our history that if democratic principles are trampled upon, the end result is never in the interest of the country and its people. An artificially constructed majority not reflecting the real aspirations of the people fails to deliver, causing unrest and despondency in the country. The story started with Ayub Khan who soon came to grief. The story was repeated in 1977 when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto attempted to get elected unopposed through the abduction of a rival candidate. Such tactics, including election-day rigging to ensure a landslide victory, were responsible for the movement that led to his downfall. The 1990s witnessed a ridiculous game of musical chairs which greatly weakened the foundations of democracy in the country. Powerful candidates use intimidation to stifle the opposition, while feudal lords resort to ballot stuffing. But management of elections through underhand means never stands the test of time. Let the people decide of their free will. This alone can ensure political stability.