There is just so much to celebrate at the end of the recent elections. One, these were held. We are known to have fallen back on unconstitutional ways to deny or usurp power. Could these have been held better? Without a doubt — the Election Commission cannot be proud of how it came out in collating and informing results. Widespread tales of corrupting and manipulating results on seats in Punjab and Karachi are now well established. The Election Commission is responsible for it primarily for failing to keep the transparency and fidelity in those constituencies. Two, despite the hurdles, the difficulties, the confusions and the rampant use of force and fear, the people spoke in favour of their party and its candidates. They found the symbol that supported their candidates from a plethora created to confuse the voter and stamped their authority without fear.

This defines the new politics, and we can deny it only at our peril. People and the society remain inherently democratic and prefer democratic options than agitate or resort to insurgent means. This is redeeming. For a nation as large as ours respect for law and the process must be held supreme to keep it relevant and the only way that people will express themselves. Foundational institutions like administrative machinery, law and order mechanisms, judiciary and the armed forces hold the edifice together even if they may seem compromised on the surface at times. If those are corrupted beyond redemption the edifice will crumble felling the entire state structure. Any other way can only be disastrous. We saw a glimpse on May 9th, and it shook us to the core. The responsibility is mutual — not give a reason to people to fall back on dastardly ways and respect their voice and will.........

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