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| Await poll or Zardari's good news | | | Nirbhay Jammual
The state team,comprising Director General Police,Kuldeep Khoda,Chief SecretaryS.S.Kapoor,and the Chief Electoral Officer,B.R.Sharma,have conveyed to the Election Commission that holding of the Assembly election could prove an antidote to the current situation in the Kashmir valley.Yes the team did not mind if the elections were held a bit later than the schedule,instead of holding it in October it could be held towards the end of November.The team members had explained to the Election Commission members that the security scenario in the Kashmir could not be expected to become normal within a month or so when the separatists have started inciting people on one issue or the other.It was also brought to the notice of the Commission that the current situation was not so bad that polling cannot be held or contesting parties cannot carry out pre-poll campaign.
The Commission people were told that elections have been held in the state during conditions worse than what the Government is faced with at present.Experts in the central Government and in the Election commision are of the view that if elections were postponed for a longer time it would not be possible for the poll process to be held for an indefinite period.They have cited the instance of mid 90's when the elections had to be deferred for a period of six years.The polling was held in 1996.Another assessment from the state and the central Government is that once the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road was thrown open for trade it could dilute the level of anger among the votaries of trade route.It could defuse the bomb in the hands of the separatists.
What has kindled hope for the Jehlum valley road to be opened for trade is Pakistan President,Asif Ali Zardari's, recent remarks in which he asked people to wait for some good news on Kashmir.There is no possibility of an immediate settlement of the Kashmir issue.In the context of the recent developments,including the so called economic blockade on Kashmir,the only good news can be if the road is thrown open for trade.There may be another couple of agreements between the two sides on Siachen and Sir Creek dispute.What can be the good news on Kashmir ?Even people in Pakistan do not know.As far as the people in the Kashmir valley are concerned they seem to have neither reacted nor responded with fire crackers to the hope of good news on Kashmir given by Asif Ali Zardari.
There are many cynics in Kashmir who dismiss the good news theory of Zardari with disdain and with "we care least" attitude.Why so ?They have reports that Zardari is suffering from memory lapses.Well there is nothing authentic about it except that the leaders of Pakistan Peoples' Party do say that this disease has been cured.If it is still there one does not rule out Zardari saying "when did I say wait for some good news on Kashmir."If he does say so he does not deserve to face an impeachment motion.Even if he has to face it he can defeat the motion by saying "it was a deliberate error to keep Delhi guessing."And if the Election Commission fixed November as the date for the poll Zardari can take refuge under this announcement.He can tell people :"when I said wait for some good news on Kashmir I simply meant that the elections in Kashmir will not be postponed for a long time."So let us wait for Zardari's good news and Election commission's better news. |
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