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Election Manifesto, 1988 of Pakistan People's Party

Recalling the pattern of our political character since independence, it would appear that the political parties have contributed their due share by means of their elections manifestos that they forget soon they are returned to power. This time again, on the eve of general elections, almost all parties in the field have come out with their slogans and programs.

Analyzing the programs of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP), both the parties of the left with a progressive orientation, their performances in previous elections are to be kept in view.

Last time it was 1977 when PPP had issued an election manifesto promising to keep the pace of development in every walk of national life that she said was initiated after PPP came to power in December, 1972. Accordingly, it had then promised to 50 per cent increase in national production of wheat to bring it to 125,000,000 tons, of rice to 3,600,000 tons and making Pakistan self sufficient in steel, fertilizers, petroleum etc. Adult franchise was promised for tribal areas and establishment of local self-government system was assured.

The confronting conglomeration of nine parties contesting the election with the sole purpose of overthrowing the PPP at any cost, had little to offer by way of an election program save critiquing the PPP program as not accomplishable.

Ultimately then the PPP could secure 155 seats, PNA got 36, Qayyum League one and independents won 8 seats.

The late 80's was a crucial period internationally with the USA under President Carter, facing hard times in the entire Afro-Asian world and South Asia particularly. In Iran Shah was on his way out, Afghanistan was in the process of transition to progressive regime, Africa and South America challenging the US hegemony and its interventionist character. Gulf and other oil producing countries had become a menace to the US policies. In such a background the US was hardly to accommodate yet a progressive regime in Pakistan to continue its rule and which under the leadership of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had already promised nuclear advancement to the people.

In this background the opposition in Pakistan came out on streets with rigging of polls charges against the PPP and thus from Karachi Sher Baz Mazari and Prof: Ghafoor initiated a crusade to face the law enforcement forces on any expense for getting rid of the Bhutto government. And this strife culminated in the promulgation of martial law with Gen. Zia coming into power. The Zia decade in power could be an area of study for the human rights activists in Pakistan.

For 1988 election PPP has released its manifesto that consist of six parts with forty chapters. For the ideologists the manifesto might be contradictory in itself but it still it happens to be the only scientific election program given by any party in the field. The party's doctrinal deviation from its foundation aims and objections can be justifiable in the context of the country's existing changed sociopolitical, intellectual and historical facts and frameworks.

In fact the 1970's elections were held on the basis of class war and class distinctions in the then West Pakistan wile in the then East Pakistan it were held on the slogan of Bangla nationalism. However, this time in 1988 all such ideological urgencies have been drained out. The decade long rule of Gen. Zia has left the awareness of the masses further down to a corner of religious fundamentalism. And that is why now any reformer would take a start from square one. Theoretically the ANP election program is more regionlistic with a taste of orthodox nationalism and democracy.

The PPP has given up the more often used ideological terminology of proletarians, bourgeoisie, feudalism and capitalism. This is very much understandable, as historically our domestic environmental framework has been molded into a new intellectual set up.

This is the direct outcome of international changes in the pace of politics. Now the concepts like Group o 7 and the North South dialogue are almost extinct and so the urges for social democracy in Pakistan.

Here the PPP has employed a principle that seeks national consensus and as such would not go for dissent but unification. And it is here that PPP seemingly happens to be the popular national party closely concerned for the restoration of democracy and rule of law.

Unemployment: As against some other parties of the left, the PPP on this subject has come out with an enforceable program through meaningful administrative arrangement providing for and establishment of a pool funded by concerned agencies.
Social Sector: In case of education, health and civic amenities, the PPP has positively identified the problem and challenge posed by population explosion in the country and has accepted this challenge.
Urbanization: The party has also dealt effectively with the question of urbanization, mass migration from rural to urban areas and proposes to tackle the problem realistically though the element of check of this situation has been left untouched.
Refugees: It is rather surprising that no party, including the PPP has touched the problem of refuges of whose fiscal cost has been estimated at 26 per cent for many years. Deforestation, ecological influences, erosion of land, floods, soil malnutrition and social issues are problems being faced by our folks beside financial burden the government is carrying due to refugees.
Energy: Whereas the PPP has made a mention of signing the Nuclear Arms Treaty it has not mentioned about acquisition of nuclear power plant. During Mr. Bhutto's era France had promised to provide Pakistan with one plant but the country could not get it after Gen. Zia came to power.
Local Bodies: The manifesto has not given much importance to the need of reforms in the local bodies.
Tribal Areas: There is an assurance that adult franchise will be extended to the country's tribal areas which is in line with the policy of the party and aspirations of the majority of tribesmen. However, the manifesto has not given any word on the would be merger of these areas into the settled areas of Pakistan.
Lowari Tunnel: The Lowari Tunnel to connect Chitral with the rest of the country by constructing an all weather road has been omitted which is not in line with the party policies. However, since Mrs. Nusrat Bhutto is contesting from Chitral, the party may like to give sympathetic consideration to the project.
Others: In part 3 and 4 of the manifesto the party has dealt with the issues of senior citizens, rights of women and children and of unemployed youth.

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