WhamBam

AM, May be you are right. This report may be high on speculation based on insufficeint data like the Jiye Sindth thread in PFF.

Some of the facts related to the E-Mail exchange, the alleged ISI plan for rigging of elections (with details of the safe house) and the statement of BB implicating Musharraf himself (not as being callous in not providing enough security but being a conspirator) is new material I guess. Of course it makes an assumption that BB is truthful, which may itself be questionable.

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There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don’t..

Tarek Morgen

The election has been moved to the 18.2.08

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uh I might be wrong

Agnostic Muslim

Its on my list. Thanks!

I think there was sufficient cause for concern, given the tension after BB's assassination, to explore that issue (resurrection of Jeay Sindh) - Modi's statement should be part of that discussion, but I don't care for how its been made the central focus.

A better comparison would be the "Jihad" statements by some Pakistani parliamentarians being given a lot more attention than they should have, and finding sway with certain audiences on Indian and Western forums. Neither side is immune from these histrionics.

A "Mega Computer to hack into any computer in Pakistan"? Are you seriously giving these accusations credence? This is beyond ridiculous. First off, I don't believe the PEC is using electronic voting machines that are hooked into any network.

Secondly, Musharraf passed certain reforms in the electoral process, that BB wanted, as part of the NRO. The most important one was that the votes would be counted at every polling station in front of agents nominated by the political parties, and any observers, and the results announced at that moment. Previously the votes used to be sent to Islamabad for counting and the results would be announced from there, obviously giving rise to accusations that "elections were rigged". I am not sure how a "Mega Computer" is going to help here.

Even if we assume that these accusations have merit, and the implication is that BB was murdered for this reason, I don't see how it would help the GoP. The accusations would come out anyway, and BB's murder would only give those wishing to denigrate the GoP more ammunition. So linking these accusations to the murder does not make sense.

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Pakistan is not going to be a theocratic state to be ruled by priests with a divine mission - Jinnah

WhamBam

Is there some confusion here?

I don't think the article talks about Mega computer and hacking. It talks about poll rigging the old fashined way - by ballot paper stamping.

Srirangan

Rigging of polls, doesn't surprise me. Didn't Musharraf win a refferandum by 99% votes? Another guy who got 99% in a refferandum:

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I rant, therefore I am.

Agnostic Muslim

Ah you missed that little gem of an accusation.
Sources: Bhutto was to give U.S. lawmakers vote-rigging report - CNN.com

With respect to Ballot paper stamping, if the political agents appointed by the respective parties are going to observe all the ballot boxes, before voting is to begin and after, and be present while counting takes place, does that not minimize the threat of rigging by such means? Part of the electoral reforms were the use of transparent ballot boxes, primarily imported from China I believe, that would eliminate to some extent the impression that the boxes arrived "stuffed", and during videos of the rioting you could see staff moving them around (looked like giant plastic food tubs to me).

Srirangan:

That was before the electoral reforms adopted at the insistence of BB and the PPP.

WhamBam

Thanks AM for this info. It does make things harder I hope for anyone attempting rigging.

The final proof will be of course, if the political parties, the Pakistani people and the international community can trust the poll process and the results as being genuine.

I sicerely hope that happens.