Fast-forward governance

Anything that clean up the cesspit that is party politics in the country is to be welcomed

What started as something of a kite-flying exercise by Imran Khan, leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has overnight become flavour of the day for the prime minister. The PM has expressed himself in favour of the Imran Khan proposal for a constitutional amendment that would replace secret balloting for Senate seats with a simple show of hands. Opposition parties are not saying that this is a bad idea, but are rightly pointing out that the Senate polls are less than 10 days away and constitutional amendments are not things to make in haste. The PM, at a federal cabinet meeting, signalled that he was not averse to an amendment. The proposed amendment is aimed to eliminate, or minimise, vote-buying and political horse-trading, both of which are hallmarks of political life in Pakistan since Partition. Few would doubt that this would be a bad move, and anything that cleaned up the cesspit that is party politics in the country is to be welcomed.

The PM has expressed his concern about the use of financial inducements in the forthcoming elections, and Imran Khan has spoken of a donation to his Shaukat Khanum Foundation that was, he felt, designed to gain political favour and leverage — to say nothing of a Senate seat. It is going to take some very quick parliamentary footwork if the amendment is to be made before March 5. This brings into focus the parliamentary position, or lack of it, of the PTI. The PTI has eschewed the Lower House since last autumn, and for any vote on the amendment to be valid it would require PTI presence in the House. Presumably there is now behind-the-arras activity by all parties to see what is achievable in the tightest of time frames. It may all prove to be smoke and mirrors and no matter what the intent, be it mischief or otherwise, just another piece of political theatrics. Theatrics or not, we support the underlying premise.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th,  2015.

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