HRCP demanded the Election Commission to intervene and stop the “asymmetric warfare on the electoral process.”. PHOTO: FILE
In a statement issued by the HRCP executive council at the conclusion of its meeting on Saturday, the Commission said: “It is manifestly clear now that the latest process of scrutiny of candidates is a witch hunt aimed at harassing and humiliating candidates. It undermines the essence of what democracy entails and shows a complete lack of faith in the people’s right and ability to choose their representatives.
The HRCP said that “where we stand today is in large measure the result of the political governments shying away from acknowledging overt interference in active politics by state institutions who had no business doing that.”
The Commission added that this is why the “process today is subject to manipulation by a number of vested interests of non-representative groups, institutions and bodies.”
“The ‘selection’ of candidates in the last few days also raises other, deeper questions. The completely arbitrary barring of candidates by returning officers at this scale cannot be without instructions and encouragement to take this tack.
The HRCP added that it saw “a clear and systematic sabotage of the democratic process to make the will of the people completely irrelevant.” And that this was a deliberate and planned abuse of the process in a bid to complete Ziaul Haq’s agenda to accommodate extremism into mainstream politics and to thrust theocratic rule down people’s throats.
The rights body called on all political parties and the civil society to vigilantly guard against these latest attempts to “liquidate democracy” in Pakistan and resolutely reject any and all bids to delay elections under any pretext or to introduce unrepresentative rule. It further demanded the Election Commission to intervene and stop the “asymmetric warfare on the electoral process.”
COMMENTS (11)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
I fully endorse the views of HRCP in this article. Many of us were under the impression that the 18th amendment did away with all the clauses introduced by General zia. The fact that his insertions in articles 62 and 63 of the 1973 Constitution shows this was not the case. We are now experiencing the mischief and harm these clauses can cause. If the status quo continues, the Returning Officers are in a position to take this great nation of ours as for right or extreme right they so wish, and the voters will at best only rubber stamp the RO's "selection" on election day. I hope that the next assembly removes from the 1973 constitution all insertions by Zia.
Gen Zia is reincarnated and thriving in the form of non elected govt servants and mullahs. The mutilated constitution by the dictators is still being practiced even after the condition of degree is declared illegal by our SC. Completely agree with the statement “process today is subject to manipulation by a number of vested interests of non-representative groups, institutions and bodies.” An example could clear up this point. In the US the SC is hearing the petition for/against gay marriages. During the hearing the CJ Robers forcefully complained that the elected president and the leadership is not dealing with this problem and letting us the unelected few to decide a matter of national interest. There is a lesson for Pakistan's unelected paid govt servants who are on extension.
Election Commission of Pakistan should be re-designated Guardian Council of Pakistan on which only Ulema " Karam " should sit and select candidates for election . And only " Ulemas " should have the right to govern Pakistan as it is their divine right but exception can be made for those politicians who go through the Madressa education for three years under an accredited alim and pass the exam with distinction . People like Ayaz Amir should not only be barred from election but should be barred for life from holding a public office for they are overly educated extraordinarily honest and par-excellence public intellectual and call a spade a spade shame that we keep mum over such flagrantly dishonest decision . Pakistan will not unravel because of economic , educational or poverty problems 90% or more of world countries suffer from such problems , it will unravel through hatred of others and constant propaganda of hatred and brain washing of the young . America even has a problem of 99 % versus 1 % though poverty and illiteracy for sure are serious problems .
HRCP considers any attempt to.hold the law makers accountable to law as a threat against.democracy.
I'm totally disagreed that returning officer shouldn't ask question to the candidates. If someone applied for any job then he/she should go-through recruiting process. So politicians should answer basic ques like who was the first governor general of Pakistan and the national anthem of Pakistan...
@Arbab Zahid: That filtering has to be done by the people, not by the rightwing bureaucrats, serving or retired.
@Rafiq Ahmed: "Fool," please do not get personal. You are being as intolerant as the "mullahs" you criticize. As for the HRCP: would it not be appropriate to root exclude the fake degree holders and the loan defaulters? By law, fake degree holders do not qualify to contest elections. The law was made by the elected representatives of the people of Pakistan through their own parliament. Why should the law be not applied and adhered to?
True and accurate analysis by Human Riights Commission. The reactionary and mullah forces, having been defeated in previous elections, are now conspiring and scheming to use ECP to exclude all candidates except their own fundoo\s and Islamists . This evil , back-door conspiracy by the religious fanatics must be stopped. The people of Pakistan and not these decadent and dark forces should elect and decide their representatives in the parliament
@Arbab Zahid: Fool, who is a right candidate? If somebody is that much right, then why elections, he can be appointed straightaway without elections. Are the people have right to elect them or the bureaucrat select them? Your intention is to see that only mullahs occupy even democratic institutions, it seems.
If HRCP while hiring any employee could do scrutiny by employing the techniques of required education, experience and interviews etc to choose a right candidate, why not ECP could filter the right people to help the nation to select right representative? ECP is simply doing its job to shortlist eligible and able individuals to be further elected by the people through elections.
Excellently comprehensive statement. Hope somebody listens. This Returning Officers business is a joke.