UK elections are of interest to Pakistanis because the country has a big population of Pakistani origin and is also a favourite destination for both politicians and other elites of this country. The resounding victory of the Conservative party, led by David Cameron, has surprised both the pollsters and electoral analysts in the UK. People vote with their pocket book or out of fear or else on perception of unfairness by existing dispensation or that they may be swamped by other nationalities. English folks have voted in the interest of England. And, the Scots have overwhelmingly supported the Scottish National Party (SNP) which had recently lost the referendum. The similarity between the 1970 election contest held in a united Pakistan cannot help integration. Awami League led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman fomented hatred and promoted anarchy among the hearts of Bengalis. And, only recently the resounding victory of MQM in NA-246 also may be the outcome of a raid in Azizabad by the Rangers.
The weakness of first past-the-poll system can be gauged from the higher votes taken by UKIP than SNP - whereas the UKIP has won one seat while SNP has got 56 seats - making it the third largest party in the House of Commons. Tories' victory is based on the premise that the UK economy is doing better than other regional players in Europe. Voters have also switched from Labour to Tories because of fear that the former party may be more dependent on SNP - a party which favours the break-up of the UK and independence for Scotland. Vote for Scotland remaining part of the UK was due to the last minute push by corporates. Now businesspeople need to prove to voters that the UK must remain within the EU because it is good for the UK's economy.
The long battle fought for leadership of Labour Party, in the aftermath, the resignation of former prime minister Gordon Brown may be another factor. Therefore, Labour needs to quickly choose a new leader as Ed Miliband has resigned. Did the Chaudhry cousins resign after the PML (Q) defeat in 2008? No certainly not. Muhammad Ali Jinnah and later his hand-chosen successor Liaquat Ali Khan were the Muslim League as once Indira Gandhi was India and India was Indira Gandhi. MQM without Altaf Hussain will not survive. Tehreek-e-Insaf is Imran Khan. PML (N) carries the symbol of Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif. And, Pakistan People's Party without the Bhutto legacy will be a non-entity. Congress party in India depends on the Nehru family for support. Hasina Wajid and Khaleda Zia are dependent on their connection with the male heads of their respective parties. This tunnel vision in South Asia needs to end. Young people constitute a substantial portion of our population. The young want young leaders to bring about a change. Last time the majority voted for experience over change -that is what PML (N) would like us to believe. PTI has challenged the legitimacy of the 2013 elections. Now only the Judicial Commission investigating the 2013 elections vote rigging allegations can determine that.