A fisherman is showing his catch to be sold in Larkana Fish Market. Photo Credits: Nadeem Akhter at APP
Adil Najam
Today is a good day for democracy in Pakistan. The Gilgit-Baltistan region goes to poll for the first time to elect a legislative chamber of their own. Full franchise needs to be extended to each and every Pakistani, everywhere in Pakistan. One hopes that this step will be extended soon to other parts of Pakistan that remain without direct and full adult franchise.
The political implications of this step can be far reaching both for Pakistan and even beyond Pakistan. I personally think that the designation of Gilgit-Baltistan as an autonomous region is a first step towards the inevitability of the existing four provinces being sub-divided into a larger number of provinces. That prospect alone makes the political importance of this step far-reaching.
It may be too early to predict the shape of possible implications, but it is timely to think about steps than will ensure that these implications are positive for the Gilgit-Baltistan region and for the country as a whole. What is already interesting is to watch the political dynamics unleashed by these elections. Given that new ‘electoral capital’ is being created with the creation of a new Assembly, new seats, and new regional power players, it is not surprising that established political players in the rest of the country are putting their all into these elections. The biggest names in Pakistan politics are all traveling North to make sure that their party can capture this new ‘electoral capital’ and gain the advantage in future elections. This, itself, is a good sign.
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Adil Najam
Legendary cricketer, motivated philanthropist and maverick politician Imran Khan had an emergency stomach surgery performed yesterday.
He is still in hospital (yes, at the very same Shaukat Khannum Hospital that is his greatest gift to Pakistan – yes, it is a gift far greater than even his World Cup cricket victory). But he is reportedly out of danger and recovering.
All Things Pakistan wishes him a speedy recovery.
Get well soon, Imran. We need you.
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