The
deep political affiliation of people to their party election period usually
turn out to be bloody. In Sahiwal district, two to three people are murdered in
every Union Council (UC) on the occasion of elections. With such emotions
attached to the topic of discussion, the conveners provided every participant a
chance to express his views while being mindful of the rules. Representatives
of major political parties, including PML-Q, PML-N, PPP, PTI and MQM sat
together to sort out solution of such an important issue through dialogue, especially
when the elections are approaching.

Despite
a long history of these conflicts, the government authorities concerned have not
taken any action to stop such incidents.

During
the election period, these issues emerge due to lawlessness, intolerance
towards ideology of other parties, feudal mindset, low education level, misuse
of power and authority, apolitical approach, poor training of ECP officials,
political blackmailing such as reducing funds for development, harassment, people
profiteering from political conflicts, and inciting conflicts to gain political
favours. These issues could be solved through launching awareness campaigns,
strictly implementing laws, showing self-control and tolerance, ensuring
equality and fairness, protecting freedom of political association and freedom
of expression, arms control, political education by the ECP especially on the importance
of voting to right candidate, proper training of ECP workers, recruitment based
on merit, training of party workers by the party leaders, encouraging people to
follow political ideologies and not the personalities. All these messages could
be conveyed through imparting religious education, bringing curriculum reforms,
incorporating laws/code of conduct/ethics in education curriculum, teaching
about basic rights and responsibilities to self and others, curtailing feudal
influence, posing strict penalties or punishments for spoilers; banning people
who buy or sell votes, conducting district-level workshops by CSOs and
community leaders on political literacy, using?
media in spreading awareness, discouraging favouritism in hiring
regulatory body officials, evolving transparency mechanisms as well as criteria
for people wanting to run for politicians.