Elections in Pakistan: Stooges of the State terrorizing opponents Pakistan Share Tweet We have been told by the media that the January elections in Pakistan will be "free and fair", but this report reveals how the rich and powerful will use all means necessary to keep their seats. A PPP candidate who played a key role in the previous parliament in opposing anti-working class legislation is now facing physical threats. As the campaign for the elections picks up momentum, the sate sponsored elements are using all their resources to terrorize and harass their opponents as they fear a humiliating defeat at the hands of the leaders of the masses. Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, who became Prime Minister before Shaukat Aziz under the Musharraf regime for forty days and is the president of the former ruling party, the Muslim League, is now trembling along with his family members for fear of losing his seat even in his home constituency of Gujrat. The Pakistan Peoples Party candidate and former Member of the National Assembly, Qamar Zaman Kaira in the NA-106 constituency, is staged to win the seat again thanks to his leading role in the National Assembly against the attacks of the government on the workers. He waged a relentless battle along with Comrade Manzoor against reactionary labour laws and other such legislation. However, the State is very concerned about his popularity and is using all means to block his path to re-election. In a press conference held by Kaira at the Peoples Party Secretariat he said that Chaudhry of Gujrat has launched a "reign of terror" against his opponents in connivance with the district administration. However, he said that he would not bow before such coercive tactics. "The district administration, which is partial, is forcing us to take arms. I want to state on record that Chaudhry Wajaht Hussain (the younger brother of Shujaat Hussain) will be responsible in case any harm comes to me," he said. "Wajaht is running his own commando force of notorious outlaws who are roaming in Gujrat, and threatening our supporters," he added. The Chaudhry family are still running Gujrat as de facto rulers, calling on criminal elements to crush their political opponents. The people are fed up of the Chaudhry misrule in Gujrat. If given a free chance they will vote against the Chaudhrys. Shujaat Hussain and co. have also realized this fact and that is why they have resorted to coercive tactics. These people have a history of using bandits and criminals for winning elections by terrorizing people. During their five-year rule they have extended their means to harass the people, as no action could be taken against them even if they killed someone. The masses in this area are yearning for a change and these elections have given them a chance to show their resentment and hatred against such forces.
