Pakistan is preparing for one of its most difficult elections in many years, warned observers and political activists, with candidates alleging widespread interference by the country's powerful army
. The Muslim League-Nawaz claims to have been targeted by members of the intelligence services because tensions between the ruling Sharif family and the country's influential army are very strong.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former prime minister of the country and PML-N The deputy told the FT: "The members of our party have been forced to change sides, many of them being threatened with corruption."
Referring to the 2002 election, during which Pervez Musharraf, the military dictator, accused of blocking his two main opponents, Mr. Abbasi added: "This seems to be the worst election since 2002 – the people started treating him like a joke. " [19659002] The hostility between the PML-N and the army has been elevated since last year, when Nawaz Sharif was ousted as prime minister and party leader on charges of corruption that his Allies say were orchestrated by the army. The PML-N government remained in power until parliament was dissolved in May in preparation for elections under an interim government.
Last week, Mr. Sharif was jailed for 10 years in a judgment that could see him unable to campaign during the elections.
This seems to be the worst election since 2002 – people started to treat it like a joke [19659008] Meanwhile, many members of his party say that they were called by people that they were not. they believe they are serving the army and that they are being asked to change allegiance.
Some say that their movements have been monitored and sometimes hindered, while others claim that they have been hunted down by the courts. Mr Abbasi's own candidacies were challenged in the Supreme Court, which ultimately ruled in his favor.
The army denied any political interference, General Asif Ghafoor, his spokesman, claiming he would play his role in
The PML-N is engaged in a two-fight against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the anti-corruption party led by Imran Khan, the former cricket captain of Pakistan. Mr. Khan denied allegations that he was supported by the powerful generals of the country and condemned any harbadment of the candidates in the elections.
Assuming the vote goes as planned, it will only be the second time that Pakistan's civilian government has another. But the security of the electoral process has been questioned by a series of attacks on electoral rallies, including one in Mastung that killed 149 people.
Some accuse the army of not doing enough to ensure the safety of political candidates.
Concerns over the treatment of the main opponents of the PTI, including the Pakistan People's Party and the National Party Awami, urged Pakistan to defend its human rights commission to publish a damning report on the electoral process
The commission said this week that she was "gravely concerned by what she considers to be flagrant, aggressive and flawless attempts to manipulate the outcome of the upcoming elections ".
He is also concerned about the army plan to put 370,000 soldiers on the streets on polling day, compared to only 70,000 in the previous general elections in 2013.
Journalists say they also under increased pressure the line of the army, with those who fail to comply with the distribution problems of their news. In March, cable television services in some parts of the country began blocking the transmission of the Geo television station, while Dawn's English newspaper said its sales channels were disrupted
. Government accreditations have been delayed for weeks, giving them only a few days on the ground before polling day next Wednesday.
"We have never had such a situation in any of our more than 150 missions," said Dmitra Ioannou, Deputy Chief Observer of the World Wildlife Monitoring Mission. ; EU. "Usually, our long-term observers spend five to six weeks in the field, this time, because of all the delays with our documents, they will only receive one or two weeks, if that." [19659019]
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