It seems that in the land of the pure, nothing is pure, not even the bags supposed to contain votes of citizens
LAHORE: This refers to the news regarding the election tribunal’s findings in the NA-125 constituency, annulling the results and ordering a re-poll on the seat won by PML-N leader and Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique. The tribunal noted that “the election staff had not discharged their duties proficiently. The Returning Officer (RO) had compiled the results on the basis of unverified information.” Most shameful, disgraceful and ignominious are the tribunal’s remarks in one of the paragraphs of its report: “in fact each polling bag of the constituency is in a condition of such a mess that it can be said to be trash and rubbish”. It seems that in the land of the pure, nothing is pure, not even the bags supposed to contain votes of citizens exercising their constitutional right. How can civilisation and democracy thrive in a place where everything, including minds and souls, are polluted? At least in dictatorships people don’t have to wait in line for hours to vote, only to find that polling bags contain waste and litter instead of votes.
Who is responsible for all this trash, waste and rubbish found in the polling bags? This is an offence of the highest degree. The RO concerned must be questioned and held accountable for this. Following the traditions of democratic norms and practices, Saad Rafique should have gracefully accepted the tribunal’s decision. Had he done so, his actions would have at least given some good impression of his party, if nothing else. It is hoped that other pending petitions before the election tribunals will be decided swiftly and without any bias or favouritism.
Aamir Aqil
Published in The Express Tribune, May 6th, 2015.
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