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ISLAMABAD – As Pakistan prepares to make history on Wednesday by electing a third civilian government, rights activists, analysts and candidates say the campaign is among the dirtiest of the country.
The campaign was characterized by "flagrant, aggressive and flawless attempts to manipulate" the results, media being silenced and intimidated candidates, according to the Independent Human Rights Commission. man from Pakistan
. The center of most allegations is the powerful military establishment, with its intelligence agency, known as the ISI acronym.
The manipulation is seen as preventing the Pakistani Muslim League, the party of disgraced Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, from returning to power, while trying to lead the country to former cricket star Imran Khan and his Tehreek-e-Insaf party in Pakistan, or PTI.
The grudging campaign and accusations of manipulation have polarized Pakistanis, and whichever the losing party risks shouting out fraud.
"No matter the elections, I see a lot of instability," said Ayesha Siddiqa, Inc., "about the massive financial holdings of the Pakistani army.
The Army has led the country of more than 200 million people – directly or indirectly – for most of its history Successive attempts at prolonged democracy have been interrupted by military coups, the latest in 1999. [19659011] Pakistanis went to the polls in 2008 and elected their first civilian government in 12 years.
"It's a pretty schizophrenic moment Democracy," said Moeed Yusuf, associate vice president of the Center Asia at the Washington-based US Peace Institute
"On the one hand, you have completed 10 years of unbroken democratic rule. … On the other hand, you have all kinds of allegations of rigging and manipulation before the ballot. "
The Pakistan People's Left Party was propelled to victory in 2008 by sympathetic voters following the death of its leader Benazir Bhutto, killed by radical activists whom she had vowed to eradicate
Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League, or PML-N, won in 2013, but quarreled with the military after questioning its links with militant groups.
He was ousted Last year after leaked documents from a law firm in Panama revealed that he and his family had undisclosed assets abroad.He was found guilty of bribery, banished from political life and sentenced to 10 years in prison, where he appealed his conviction, his brother, Shahbaz Sharif, took power.
"The shadow of the army that threatens elections magnify the ongoing struggles of democracy in Pakistan, "said Michael Kugelman, di Vice President Asia Program at the Wilson Center, based in the United States. "The allegations of military interference and the fact that troops will be deployed massively on election day clearly show that this electoral process is not entirely a civil-led process."
At the request of the Pakistan Election Commission, the army deploys 350,000 soldiers to the country's polling stations. The human rights activist I.A. Rehman said that it was worrying that the soldiers would be positioned inside the booths where votes are cast.
The campaign was also shaken by violence, with candidates from several targeted parties. An attack earlier this month in Baluchistan province (southwestern Pakistan) killed 149 people, including a candidate in parliament. Another 300 people were injured.
An unprecedented number of radical religious parties also participate in the election, including some that have been banned but have new names. Violent Sunni militant groups who swear to rid Pakistan of its Shia minorities are seeking to be elected, and PTI and PML-N candidates have been seen courting them. In some areas, candidates were intimidated not to run.
"It is disturbing to see how religion is used as a tool to gain power by a large number of candidates," said Samar Minallah Khan, a human rights activist. documentary filmmaker. "Political parties pay tribute to forbidden outfits, distributing tickets for people who in the past have endangered the lives of activists and minorities through their television programs, spreading hatred and violence. priority is to win, no matter what happens. "
There are 85,307 polling stations across Pakistan and more than 12,000 candidates are running for 272 seats in parliament and 577 seats in four provincial assemblies . observers will monitor the vote. The election observation mission of the European Union has 60 observers in the polling stations of major centers
According to Pakistani law, separate seats are reserved for women and non-Muslim minorities, who represent 4 % Population.
The Associated Press writer Zarar Khan contributed.
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This document may not be published, distributed, rewritten or redistributed.
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