Published in English Daily, Pakistan Observers.
Defying all pollsters and political pundits, David Cameron’s
conservatives clinch a decisive victory in Great Britain’s general elections
held on May 8. Having once been our Masters, the originators of modern
Democracy, the victors of World Wars and sole superpower of her times, the
Great Britain’s general elections were observed and monitored keenly in every
capital of the world. There was no less excitement and interest in Pakistan for
score of reasons as a good number of Pakistani Britain were contesting from the
platform of all the major political parties in the run of elections and a good
part of the electorate also consisted of Pakistani Britain. These elections
which according to all pre-poll surveys and analyses, were expected to be a
tightly fought contest, giving way to a hung Parliament and a coalition
government, have contrarily given a decisive majority to Cameron’s Conservative
party. The tradition continues that the incumbents get the second term and
return to Westminster to the treasury benches. Besides conservatives, the
Scottish National Party emerged to be the major beneficiary of people’s
confidence which virtually did a clean sweep in Scotland and won 56 out of 59
seats. They have got a clear mandate from the electorate for either an
independent or highly autonomous Scotland.
Though Labours have suffered a defeat and particularly have
performed worst in their erstwhile stronghold Scotland, yet they have not
performed bad and have clinched respectable number of seats. The worst have
proved these elections for Liberal Democrats who for centuries had remained
themselves as the main rivals of Conservatives. Largely, the British electorate
has given a quite wise, forceful and loud and clear verdict. It has been the
desire of the electorate that the Empire Strikes back and revives her lost
glory and they have developed the feeling over the years that it is the Cameron
who can make Britain strike back and have her reclaim her lost prestige.
It is expected that David Cameron’s government would fulfill
the commitments made in election manifesto, would uplift the prestige and
prosperity of the nation and most importantly would manage to keep the nation
united by extending broader autonomy to Scotland. Pakistan needs to learn from
her old masters the conduct of free and fair elections and should benefit from
the Britain’s experience in flourishing democracy and promoting democratic
culture in Pakistan.
TASSAWUR BOSAL
Mandi Bahauddin
Daily Pakistan Observer
Friday, May 15, 2015.
