Time for all Pakistanis to have their say

After months of posturing, weeks of campaigning and hours of speeches to countless numbers of potential voters, the leaders of Pakistan’s political parties now await the ultimate verdict to be delivered by the nation’s voters in today’s general election. And right now 371,000 soldiers have been dispatched across Pakistan to ensure that the vote goes ahead without the threat of terrorist incident and that the integrity of this general election remains unimpugned by irregularities or calculated efforts to thwart eligible Pakistani citizens from exercising their constitutional right to elect a new government.

All too often in the history of Pakistan, events have conspired to deprive its citizens of a free and fair election process, or its military authorities have intervened to subvert the democratic process and impose a military government. Not this time around. It is essential that this vote goes ahead in the most normal circumstances possible, and a peaceful transition of power is achieved. Pakistan has matured as a constitutional democracy and it is essential that once more a government elected in free and fair elections be allowed to form the next government.

For the current caretaker government, its sole duty and primary responsibility is to ensure today’s vote takes place without incident and that win or lose, it oversees the successful and peaceful transition of power to the next administration.

For miscreants who may be intent on disrupting these polls, or may be to tempted to manipulate its outcome through criminal and politically despicable means, there can be no quarter given and, regardless of their standing or geographical location, must be held to account.

This military deployment marks the largest such in Pakistan’s history and it is a positive sign, one that shows that the nation, the military and the government are determined to ensure there is a peaceful election and smooth transfer of power. One can only hope that the combined efforts of the authorities bear fruit once all of the ballots from across the nation have been counted. Yes, the Taliban and others have tried to subvert this democratic process, but all Pakistanis, regardless of their beliefs or political convictions, have shown that they are passionate about their parties, embrace democracy and deserve to have their individual voice heard collectively today. Regardless of who wins, the very fact that two successive governments have been elected through free elections shows how Pakistan has matured politically — and long may that continue.