Srinagar, Feb. 16 -- Khan's pursuit of power in Pakistan has hit a roadblock as the authorities anticipated and prevented party-less independents from forming the government. The irony lies in the fact that the party with a significant share of seats, despite electoral irregularities, will now sit in the opposition, while those benefiting from irregularities will govern.

What was the point of this elaborate exercise then? A more pertinent question would be what is the point of democracy if it can be so effortlessly and blatantly compromised. And this isn't just true of Pakistan but of most third world countries. And there are several forms this rigging can take. It can start with pandering to the base instincts of a substantial section o...