Amjad Malik writes on the bye election trend and 12 October lessons!

I am writing on 12 October 2015 remembering the 16 years of past troubles and tribulations and claims and results on vows.

12th October reminds that 12th Oct comes every year & it is a testing day each year so work harder every year to unmake it a 'Black Day' so that Pakistanis can continue Enjoying democracy and that's the lesson , task and the objective in itself.

PM Nawaz Sharif is the name of resilience who comes out of this struggle and he has the potential to turn a new page in the country's historic land scape by ending extremism replacing with education employment opportunities and he is pro actively working towards it.

Nawaz Sharif's progress as a pmln premier is the asset of his party and all efforts are being made to weaken through sit ins, take through coercive measures to deviate his attention on performance and completion of his projects and mission. Nawaz Sharifs struggle for power than government alone is hitting many dents but he is serving by the Grace.

People always criticise motorway but when they travel on it the same they always offer opinion that, "nawaz sharif did this job good by making a motor way".

As per Maryam Nawaz Sharif tweet: 

"PMLN wins in Attock. Congrats Lions!       This indeed is a glowing tribute to Shaheed Shujaa Khanzada's sacrifice. You are alive ....." That is and must be the spirt in govt. 

So public is speaking gradually on sacrifices pmln has made and is still making and people are talking through votes. 

Casting vote is a public right and to vote in & out a candidate and or a party is their general view , and let's hope people make the right choice & use it perfectly at any bye elections including that of NA122. Unlike dictatorship Citizens of Pakistan have a fundamental right to debate ideas & views critical of & unpopular with the state and casting vote is best free and fair expression of their view.

PMLN has the edge as vote is of Nawaz Sharif and PM stands taller than his competitors on all counts due to actions he has taken at federal level on national issues of terrorism, economy and energy crises

Vote is always cast on issues and issues alone ,  people of Lahore do not seem unhappy with PMLN and believe in PM who is trying to end terrorism, unemployment, & energy shortage from Pakistan. All Credit goes to the Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif for national calm post 16 December 2015 terrorist attack ,and country is moving in right direction which is paying off through ballots in bye elections and local bodies will be a first big test of it.

NA122 surely became nationally monitored election of govt and opposition despite Costly campaign. Public always speak the truth and PM gauges and monitor that trend which is a good sign as that shows PM feels the pulse as a leader 

NA 122 looked a Pakistani Man United and arsenal match playing a highly paid players & clubs making the duel interesting for ECP and pmln must support any such move even after winning to check future influx of foreign charity or political donations to temper or affect local results in local bodies and national elections to oust by money than votes. Govt and opposition must Use zeal of public at bye election to ensure fair balloting then confrontation & physical tussles, vote cast & rate will strengthen democracy but cost will eliminate Middle classes from this process 

Chief Executive must not spare criticising those Contributing to make electioneering a costly exercise and ensure govt&I and opposition sit together and reduce 'money' element from electioneering of Pakistan otherwise democracy will be weakened further and  Bye elections should not be bye bye elections.

Highly charged & pump up posh campaigns will restrict Middle classes candidates to come forward, it will make it a high cost Elections in local bodies and PTI is equally responsible by fielding rich contenders to splash funds inciting of a money match. It's disturbing to see so expensive election at NA122, and Pti must act fast being change claimants to revert electioneering in the reach of  public and candidates must be made accountable at NA and ECP for expenditures. If not encouraged ,eligible candidates including doctors engineers lawyers teachers and public animals will be Out of the process and Rich winnable through money will lock horns at coming oval and general elections.

In Pakistan it's not easy a normal election has gone way up in millions (around 40 million rupees) and who will bell the cat , no idea as My view is that Highly explosive bye election campaign was to divert attention on real issues and progress PMLN is making on key national issues.

PM rightly reacted and  reported the progress of his govt as he realised that public has aright to know the issues too when deciding for vote than personalities.

PM Nawaz Sharif is a name of resilience and to turn new page in the country by ending extremism replacing with education employment & opportunities and that's the way forward to make next elections interesting and worth while excuse and electoral reforms to be completed ideally before local bodies of realistically by general elections and PTI has delayed that process by sit ins. They could have continued both but alas all does not happen as we wish.

Autocracy is reigning in swiftly badly and un seemingly post August 2014 sit ins.  Dictatorship of mind and heart is the net result of our follies by default is the lesson of 12 October and Imran Khan will not be able to escape criticism of historians for his dharnas attempting to derail democracy which weekend it as walk over was enjoyed by interlocutors not PTI. Sit ins have triggered and civil military marriage of convenience but Prime Minister is the key to strengthen democracy and Pakistsn people's party is to revert to its original party mission set by its founding father if the remaining chapter of democracy is to survive. When We look around prime minister the presence of Musharraf's B team too is a dilemma that damage is badly done but then it's politics too.

IK was dancing on the dictatorial tunes Though  who am I to question him or any one's conduct but class or group's overall conduct can be called in question if it's fall outs have serious repercussions on national scene but check such tendencies is only through more democracy.

Followers of Barrister M A Jinnah, the Quiad e Azam , the Lawyers of Pakistan post 9 March 2007 along with media has emerged as s new entity and at no cost will deviate from the cause of rule of law, and the cause will go with them either in grave as successful or they will die in trying. That's why it's important that pakistanis understand themselves their mission and objective of the country and their national duty as per article 5 of the constitution of Pakistan that 'everyone is duty bound to look after the interest of pakistan'.

12 October is on our head again and all we can do is turn a new page to make dictatorship history and that's only possible through more democracy , stable economy providing opportunities and ending militancy and Prime Minister is on the right course through National Action Plan , Pak China corridor and dam constructions. 

In the end I sum up with the name of Him who made Nawaz Sharif Prime Minister and ousted the oppressor that's the lesson of 12th October which seems to be lost in translation.

" فَبِأَيِّ آلاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ "

"Then which of the favours

Of your Lord will ye deny"

Barrister Amjad Malik is a chair of Association of Pakistani lawyers UK and s legal aide to pmln 

For 12 October 2015