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The labour of any democratic process is long and demanding, and Pakistan is no exception to the rule. There is no question that the recent parliamentary elections were decisive as far as the future of the country is concerned. But what is more important here is how the nation will move forward in the right direction.
Perhaps a majority vote for the opposition parties was expected, and did not come as a surprise. The country last year experienced major events including the return of opposition party leaders Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto. Then there was the assassination of the latter, President Musharraf's giving up his military uniform, and the bombings that have affected the security situation throughout the year. There is no doubt that all these events have left a great impact on the political scene.
Hence, today's electoral results can surely not be analysed without taking these developments into account.
But with the conclusion of the polls, it is now critical that the country looks towards the future rather than the past. This is being said given the volatility and uncertainty that characterise the ground reality. And it is within this context that all parties involved share the responsibility of how the country's future is shaped.
Pakistan today faces grave challenges, both on the internal as well as the external fronts. For one thing, there is a general lack of stability, unity, and consensus, which are critical for building the country's institutions and civil society. Holding an election is just a part of a larger framework that seeks to facilitate the democratic process. The first step to bringing about such changes has already been set in motion and this should be built on and taken forward.
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