Oh How Soon We Forget…

This headline got me cracking:
Govt machinery used in ‘N’ by-polls campaign: Ch. Zaheer

Just reminded me of this from the last election when Zaheer’s party was in power :

2007: A cop of Punjab Police putting up the billboards of the ruling PML(Q) party

Nawaz Helps Biggest Threat to Democracy – UPDATED

Two curious news items brought ‘NA-123: Nawaz Continues To Lie‘ back to mind:

1. SC remands NA-123 polls case to LHC
2. Nawaz withdraws nomination papers for NA-123

Like We Didn’t Know: Nawaz Decides Not To Contest NA-123 – UPDATED

Though the excuse being used is that Nawaz wants “a worker” to get the seat, there was never any question he was not going to contest for the NA-123 seat. Of course officially even now PML-N is claiming “Nawaz yet to decide” bit, the truth is there was never any doubt he would have to skip these as his balls were in the grip of the Saudis. Remember that according to the ‘non-existent’ 10-year deal between Mush and Nawaz — guaranteed by Saudis — Nawaz can not take part in elections till I believe December 2010. And I have maintained that is the reason why PML-N Punjab government tried it’s best to have the by-polls for NA-55 and NA-123 delayed.

Side Note: I do hope PML-N looses — at least in Rawalpindi. They have lost NA-21 Mansehra where their candidate got twice the number of votes of his rival just a year ago. PML-N is wondering what happened. I am not! (And the shame of it is that they lost to JUI-F, despite both PPP and PML-N misusing uplift funds.)

P.S. For a hint, NA should watch last night’s TV show D-Bate which debated “There is no opposition”. The poll at the start had 75% agreeing with that. At the end of the show 95% agreed. Nice job PML-N 😉

UPDATE Feb 02: PML-N has FINALLY announced Nawaz is not going to run for NA-123. Of course the world already knew. But what is funny is that until the last minute we had them denying this and pretending “it was going to be a party decision and the party was still debating the issue.” Below are three news items from today’s paper. In the first one we have Zulfiqar Khosa lying there was no deal with foreigners stopping Nawaz from running (so in fact he is confirming it 😉 ); the second one has PML-N spokesperson Sadiq Al-Farooq stating it does not matter if Nawaz takes part or not; and the third one confirming that it is indeed the Saudis squeezing his balls, warning him to live up to the 10-year old deal not to contest until 20 December 2010.

PML-N Caught Violating Code of Conduct for Elections

Here’s the story from a couple of days ago that got my attention:
Shakil Awan unfolds Rs5b package plan for Pindiites

And I went WTF? Can he do that?? He might be the PML-N candidate for NA-55 but he hasn’t won yet so how can he be “offering” this dough?

Strengthening the system (of corruption) eh, Nawaz?

Well,  EC has been forced to take notice (not that it does any good — unless EC has the guts to disqualify him AND IS PARTY for this serious attempt at election manipulation):
EC takes serious notice of code violation

Chief Election Commissioner Justice (r) Hamid Ali Mirza has seriously taken the complaints as well as media reports regarding allegedly announcements of development projects by the candidates, a clear violation of conduct.

EC Secretary further identified the constituencies where violations are reported are: NA-123 (Lahore VI), NA-55 (Rawalpindi-VI), NA-21 (Mansehra-II), PP-82 (Jhang-II), PP-284 (Bahawalnagar-VIII), PF-83 (Swat-IV) and PF-75 (Lakki Marwat-II).

He warned that stern action will be initiated against violators of the code of conduct or against any other act of such candidates.

Alleged? Hello!! And still a warning??

Just proves how gutless and useless EC is even today… Or should I say corrupt? Will SC take notice? Not a chance…They are too busy promoting LHC CJ to SC (Remember he is the one who lapped up the “too dangerous to hold elections” bit by PML-N — Oh I am sorry, I mean Punjab Government.

SC: Balochistan is NOT safer than Punjab

Recently I had posted Now Who Would Have Thought: Balochistan Safer Than Punjab and as ridiculous a claim that seemed, the Government of Punjab was sticking with it and had managed to twist the arm of the free-judiciary containing LHC to go along with that LIE.

Well, thankfully, SC today set aside that filthy LHC judgment, observing that the election commission was an independent body not subservient to any federal or provincial government and ruled against the postponement of by-elections in NA-55.

Why the SC did not include NA-123 in the same decision is beyond me — unless it is on the technicality that the petition was filed by Sheikh Rasheed for Rawalpindi only. I do know another one by Hafiz Sulleman Butt for NA-123 is pending before SC as well.