If all goes well, general elections are going to be held on January 8,2008 as scheduled. President Pervez Musharraf has once again quite categorically stated that polls are going to be held on schedule in a free, fair, transparent, orderly and peaceful manner in conducive and harmonious atmosphere.
It is also encouraging that the "boycott fever" is over and now more and more political and religious parties are all set to fully, actively and effectively participate in the general election. This surely augurs well for the political stability and democratic process.
By now, the number of political and religious parties who are venturing into the election arena is certainly more than those who still insist on staying out of the polls process.
It is also a matter of record that known major parties, in a better late than never manner, have at last opted to contest the polls early next month whereas the boycotting parties include just a couple of known parties, otherwise most of them are rather unknown and smaller parties.
As a matter of fact, any political or religious party worth its name must contest the general election for strengthening of the democratic process. It is only after contesting the polls one can point some grievances and those who preferred to sit on the fence surely have no right to do so.
So, onwards to the general election with the cherished prayers for the polls to prove good for the nation and the country and are held in a transparent, free and fair manner