ECP dismissal of references

The Election Commission of Pakistan has dismissed National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and the Pakistan Muslim League’s disqualification references against PTI chief Imran Khan and Secretary General Jehangir Tareen. The reference submissions offended the PTI so much that they are now calling for Sadiq’s disqualification, contending that the submission was based on sentiments of malaise against the PTI party leaders. The drama began with the PTI submitting a reference against the PM calling for his disqualification last year. It appears that Mr Sadiq and the PML-N submitted the subsequent documents as a retaliatory defence instead of applying sound reasoning for the call to disqualify the chief and secretary general of the PTI. Mr Sadiq and others in the past need to be reminded that this is not grade school where one can simply reverse blame on the primary complainant; all work needs to be kept strictly professional, along with applying professionalism in behaviour. The time has come to take those who make baseless attempts at defamation of fellow members, and detract attention away from the true essence and purpose of the National Assembly, to the books.

Matters that are of utmost importance in the country that should be discussed in the National Assembly space are often pushed to the back burner because Assembly members cannot get their acts together. The ECP is lauded for dismissing the reference and recognising the bad call by Mr Sadiq. Perhaps, the PML-N was inspired by President Donald Trump making a baseless wiretapping allegation against Mr Barack Obama. No matter the reason, it is time to enforce maturity in the National Assembly and give it a better semblance of professionalism where important matters of the state actually get resolved. An example for future whiny members should be created to prevent the same behaviors so that the NA can focus on crucial matters that actually impact the people.


Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2017.