Violations in our midst

Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has a massive and unenviable task it has before it

As anomalies and irregularities continue to surface in the electoral process of our heavily polarised country, one has to feel for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the massive and unenviable task it has before it. For parties and individuals contesting the upcoming general election, as well as the voting public, the ECP is expected to pull out its shiny magic wand and fix everything to the satisfaction of all. Given the time, resources and manpower it has at its disposal, the poll supervisory body can only do so much. Yes, we can and should expect it to do everything in its power to ensure transparency and discourage most, if not all, blatant malpractices and outright attempts at election fraud, manipulation and pre-poll rigging in all its forms. To expect the ECP to iron out all the kinks would be a tall order and a bit unrealistic.

Just look at the sheer volume of the troubles that lie ahead. In one NA constituency alone (NA-125 Lahore-III), according to a PTI contender, there are 29,000 unverifiable votes that have been included in the electoral lists, despite a court petition against these votes last year. Or consider PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif’s grand poll campaign pit stop in Karachi. The ex-chief minister of Punjab who flew by private jet to the city was provided a fleet of cars by Sindh governor and fellow partyman Muhammad Zubair. Is anybody noting down these violations? And more importantly how can these be stopped between now and the elections. Or even the future?

In fact none of the country’s major or minor parties have made the ECP’s job any easier. What also has not changed is the behaviour of politicians, governors and the zero-sum nature of political competition. Since only some of the proposals to improve the electoral process have been implemented and are being adhered to leaving the ECP facing tall odds to deliver a credible election.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2018.

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