(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) Tahrir Square is once again teeming with tens of thousands. The revolution in Egypt, which overthrew president Hosni Mubarak and at the same time kick-started a wave of upheavals in the region, now seems to be making its way towards an evolutionary process, and wants the reigning military junta to concede power.
What makes the recent assembly on Tahrir spectacular is the fact that almost all of the political parties have backed it, and that too on the eve of presidential polls.
What they simply demand for is entrusting people with the confidence in running the affairs of the state and desist from hoodwinking their mandate for a comprehensive and uncompromising change. This has been warranted owing to the fact that the military council has barred almost all of the potential political contenders from presidential election, giving way to apprehensions that the army might tend to plant its own candidate for retaining the status quo. It is, indeed, a moment of truth for the Egyptians who want to ensure that their sacrifices do not go in vain.
With parliamentary elections returning a pro-Islamist house, and the real executive power resting with the army, there is a dichotomy of governance to say the least. This is why the people want a free and fair conduct of the presidential election so that the parliamentary process comes full circle, and the fruits of democracy and consensual governance reach the desired destination. But what stands as at today is a pinnacle pyramid in which the parliament might be wandering in the dark to exercise its writ and mandate.
The need of the hour is a peaceful and complete transition of power to the elected civilian authorities, and it would be more appropriate if the vetting process of candidates for the presidency were carried out after keeping in view the ground realities.
A kneejerk process in which the excesses committed by the ousted dictator are taken as benchmarks of law would not be a justifiable aspect. Let the Islamists, the liberals and even the supporters of military establishment field their candidates, and the people make a categorical choice of their own.
Hedging candidates under self-concocted wisdoms would hardly work. A free and empowered political dispensation is what Cairo awaits to cherish at the earliest.
