ECP should co-opt, at least, five eminent citizens in all the screening committees that it intends to establish.
KARACHI: It is reassuring to learn that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is taking positive steps towards creating an effective scrutiny process for the next elections. The ECP’s decision to constitute an investigating committee with officials from the National Database and Registration Authority, the Federal Board of Revenue, the State Bank of Pakistan and the National Accountability Bureau is an excellent first step in this direction. In order to provide transparency and confidence in the scrutiny process, one would expect the ECP to make public all actions beginning from the returning officer level till the final ‘yes’ or ‘no’ decision that shall be taken to screen each candidate.
Like other developed countries, the ECP could greatly enhance its credibility and effectiveness if it were to also co-opt, at least, five eminent citizens in all the screening committees that it intends to establish.
Naeem Sadiq
Published in The Express Tribune, February 22nd, 2013.
