The ruling coalition team, led by Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim, that met Minhajul Quran chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on Sunday at the Minhaj headquarters, Lahore, agreed to announce, within seven to 10 days, the dates for the dissolution of National and Provincial Assemblies and the holding of general elections. A period of 90 days would intervene between dissolution and polls, and the first 30 days out of this period would be set aside for the scrutiny of candidates that would be done strictly in accordance with the provisions of Articles 62 and 63 of the constitution. It was also agreed that apart from the caretaker Prime Minister, caretaker Chief Ministers would also be selected with consensus. Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira elaborated the point at the joint press conference he held with Dr Qadri after the meeting, that the procedure of holding consultations with the opposition as laid down in the constitution would be followed and the government would, on its own, consult Dr Qadri. The official team gave the assurance that, wherever needed, legal cover would be given to the decisions taken by the two sides. However, difference of opinion persisted on the dissolution of the election commission. In an attempt to sort this out and others points of the Islamabad Long March Declaration another meeting would be held the date of which would be fixed on January 31.
Whatever one may make of his reform package, one cannot possibly avoid being assailed by the nagging question about how Dr Qadri, who suddenly descends on Pakistan from virtually nowhere, can wield an authority to be able to dictate his terms to the government on the presumptive ground of bringing honest and dedicated politicians in the legislative bodies. The scenario, post-December 23 and especially since the long march ended, seems to testify that there is a mysterious force behind him at work. And that force is too powerful for the government to resist, where the vocal and independent media and the civil society had failed. After all, they had been forcefully voicing their concern over the likelihood of re-election of the same old corrupt lot that has failed to deliver and the need for change.
Leaving this aspect of the story aside, there is need for the authorities to ensure that, under no circumstances, the reform excuse is allowed to be used to put off the eagerly awaited general elections. Warnings about such an excuse have already come from seasoned political figures. The entire focus ought to be on finalising the electoral reform package as quickly as possible to preclude the chances of elections getting delayed; for that would provide non-democratic forces to assert their influence, ultimately resulting in derailing the democratic system and setting the stage for yet another autocratic ruler to come to power, with all the disastrous consequences for the country.