Pakistan Elections 2008: Free and Fair, Pakistani Style

Posted on December 14, 2007
Filed Under >Adil Najam, Photo of the Day, Politics, Society
265 Comments
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Adil Najam

Many of you would already have seen this photograph.

It shows a policeman (of the Punjab Police, I believe) helping hang billboards showing the election symbol of ‘bicycle.’ The bicycle, by the way, is the electoral symbol of the ruling party PML(Q), whose supposed Prime Ministerial candidate Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is the Chief Minister of Punjab and, therefore, the direct boss of this poor cop.

By the way, from the look of it this official van is holding lots of other billboards; most likely with the same symbol. For the uninitiated we should note that the Blue Toyota Hilux vans are the vehicle of choice for the Punjab Police. Also note the word (in Urdu) ‘Police’ at the back of the van and the green number plate. Both signifying that this is an official government vehicle. The policeman, of course, is also in official uniform – duly armed – and ‘assisting’ in what is clearly political campaigning.


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My first thought had been to ask people to suggest a funny title for this… maybe something like “Police ka hai farz madad aap ki!” (It’s the Police’s duty to help you) which used to be the slogan of the police service. However, there is very little about this picture that is funny. And their is plenty that is truly disturbing.

265 responses to “Pakistan Elections 2008: Free and Fair, Pakistani Style”

  1. Rafay Kashmiri says:

    Roshan,
    @ sorry you have weak memories,

    Indira and USA played also with SC Judges, they are
    chosen, like the girls choose their Barbie. Have you
    forgotten Bush’s (GW) first elections approved by a
    judge ?

    @ We shall come to know the truth about our Judiciary
    on the subject of decision against Mushy’s eligibility,
    what was behind ” unnecessary delays” with attending
    wedding & Khutna arguements, this is indeed curious !!

  2. Ahmad R. Shahid says:

    @MQ:

    That indeed is a very sorry state of affairs in Pakistan. Thanks to the lust for power of one man who is mortal by any standards but who thinks of himself as God.

  3. Rafay Kashmiri says:

    @ BB’s side very quiet, curiously absent for the last 5
    days, is she still there ??

  4. Rafay Kashmiri says:

    @ Emergency lifted (with amendements), Freedom back, Constitution reestablished, elections approaching,
    boycott increased by oppo, now what ?

    Jitho di khoti othay an khaloti

    Elections, will they be transparent, fair, clean, filtered,
    stringed, pulled, patroniszed by colonials, watched by the
    dogs, approved by the missionnaries ????

  5. MQ says:

    Sorry for using the space for an off-topic comment, but did you know the most active employer in Pakistan today is the judiciary. They are desperately looking for judges for the higher courts. They have even reduced the age limit for prospective candidates from 45 to 40. If you have a law degree with some experience you can become a high court judge — as long as you remember which side of the toast to butter.

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