Aug
24
2008

Looking for a President

Categories:

Pakistan,
Politics

As much as we may be tempted to celebrate Musharraf’s exit, and perhaps rightly so, I’d say let time decide whether it will bring any worthwhile change to the current scenario. Until then, the nation is keeping their fingers crossed for the presidential elections. According to a report on Friday:

The presidential election would be held on September 6, Election Commission has announced this on Friday. Secretary Election Commission Kunwar Dilshad has announced the schedule in a press conference here according to which nomination papers would be received on August 26. Scrutiny will be held on August 28 and candidates can withdraw nomination papers till August 30. Polling would be held simultaneously in national and provincial assemblies from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm without interruption.

There are wide speculations about the candidates that shall run for the presidency. No one can say for sure, but it could be:

Asif Ali Zardari: Co-chairman of PPP, and already nominated by the party. But ofcourse, PML-N will have a lot to say about this. Even apart from the political tangles, he would make an unworthy candidate. Zardari’s history is not pleasant, and the man is still being held under criminal investigation in Switzerland. He has not yet agreed to run for the contest. If they have decided to deprive the president of its current power, he won’t be in such a hurry.

Asfandiyar Wali Khan: Word was around that this leader of ANP could be the president. On one hand, it would be a good gesture towards NWFP. On the other hand, the future president must be unbiased and neutral rather than a passionate political activist.

Sardar Ataullah Mengal: Another likely candidate from smaller provinces. It would be a good move to nominate a president like him, mostly because it can be a beginning towards the end of provincial disharmony.

Fehmida Mirza: Zardari had hinted earlier that the new president might be a woman. She will indeed be a good choice keeping in view her ‘un-inclined’ status.

At times like these, the new president should not hesitate to take immediate steps to restore the crumbling state of the country. We are willing to show patience as It will take days, months and years of policy making and implementing for proper setting up of institutions. But in the long run he should be able to revive the nation’s long lost faith on leaders and take the steps towards a Pakistan that was meant to be.