Afghanistan is due to pass through another democratic transition that serves to be decisive in the history of war torn country. The future prospect of the state can certainly be determined from the acceptability of the election, conducted without undue means and the role of elected political leaders to design solution to multifarious problems of the country.
Despite booming security threats and drizzling weather, throng of people was observed gathering aligned in rows to the nearest polling stations across the length and breadth of war torn Afghanistan in a bid to try for their altered fate. This was a tremendous exercise of democratic right of the people, enshrined in the constitution. The zeal and enthusiasm displayed by voters’ intimates the degree of confidence they associated to democracy, guaranteeing a paradigm shift in their livelihood. The enthusiasm, warmth and civic participation reflected as if every person was going for presidential runoff. Nonetheless, another aspect of electoral undertakings, worth mentioning, is countless patience displayed by voters exercising their right to franchise. The successful and peaceful election earned huge appreciation from across the world.
Formerly, the EU Election Assessment Team (EU EAT) praised Afghan voters’ determination to elect their leadership by voting peacefully and in unexpectedly high numbers. EU EAT Chief Observer Thijs Berman said: “We don’t know who has won. We know that the Taliban have lost. Their threats to disrupt the elections with violence have led to loss of lives, of citizens, journalists, IEC staff, policemen and one international observer.” Undermining Taliban threats large number of people got to polling stations and exercised their democratic right, depicts loss of insurgency.
The unexpected large voter turnout depicts people of Afghanistan are fed up of violence and despotic regimes instead are seeking to turn their mother land into a piece of land where the right of life, privacy and civil liberties are safeguarded. It too reflected Afghanis are fervent to lead a graceful life; they used the power ballot to let the world know they are against bullet and insurgency. Hundreds of people waited in long lines in front of voting centers in various provinces worth seeing.
The necessary security and managerial preparation though was commendable yet several complaints relative to electoral stationeries hindering the continuation of electoral process was reported in different part of the country. According to Independent Election Commission (IEC) more than 200 of 6,400 voting centers across the country remained closed.
Despite the underlined administrative flaws and security concerns, the conduction of successful election that drew huge appreciation from international community, renders to be the greatest achievement of the government provided if it follows a peaceful transition of power. None of the presidential contenders expressed mistrust on the electoral process with the exception of Dr. Abdullah who claims to have earned majority votes. For a common afghan it might not matter who succeeds Karzai but his policies and priorities do.
At the moment Afghanistan is convening economical declination, social degeneration and political chaos. The outgoing President is leaving behind the legacy of male-administration, ill-political priorities, disproportional balance and battered relation with the world and neighboring countries. The political and socio-economic problems barring Afghanistan’s collective progress, could be gotten rid of, given the charisma of the forthcoming elected political leader work.
Election letting people exercise their free will electing their representative, is finding pillar of democracy. Democracy is a universally accredited governing system drawing handsome reliance from intellectuals across the world. The rational laws incorporated in the constitution assuring independent functioning of intuitions are the strengthening elements of democracy; provided the pragmatic course is pursued. Hence universal suffrage in democracy isn’t limited to change of face but the change of policies and priorities.
The incoming president made huge claims of averting the ill fate of masses. Some contestants rely to mere extension of assurances of wellbeing, security and welfare to their voters if elected. Others talks of substituting the democracy with caliphate or presidential with parliamentary.
Some political parties propagating revival of Islam and preservation of religious dogmas installment of religiously motivated teachings their primary motives, couldn’t earn enough votes, intimates Afghans don’t favor political religion. It is an established truth, politics exercised on religious ground is quiet malicious and devastative and is a conspiracy to destabilize afghan society. It is better politics should be practiced on the grounds of civic welfare, given that the use of religious sentiments and religiously polarization of society will never serve afghan’s interest.
Apparently any such claims sounds stunning but impracticable, seeing the ground realties; there manifold sects in Islam which derives variant inspiration from Islamic history. They identically, offer different interpretation to the like historical incident. For such a daydream to crystallize, a broad based and agreed consensus is needed which can only be achieved, taking every sect into confidence. Moreover, the government of Taliban claimed to be the guarantor of Islamic Jurisprudence, worth seeing that witnessed extensive human rights violation. It is democracy that is universally accepted as protector of human rights.
Having been blessed by a pragmatic leadership both the quantity and size of problems intervening the rate of progress, subsides. Determined executive, vigilant legislature, justice serving judiciary and compliant media are organs of central importance to a vibrant state. It should be learned that quantity of material possession decides not the rate and span of collective triumph but the number of well learned and cognizant men do. Greater the number of eligible citizens, greater will be optimistically contributing individuals to play their part in upbringing of the country out of multifaceted crisis. This only crystallizes, given the supremacy of rational laws and merits are withheld.
The presidential contenders’ assurances of betterment will work only when tangible measures are taken subsequent to joining his office. Afghanistan cannot develop without a sustainable economical and socio-political road map drawn and implemented that could grant them economic and political independence. The state of self reliance can only be achieved when heavy investments are made in the field of human resource developmental programs.