Caretaker K-P govt distances itself from election

Justice Dost says his administration had no role to play in holding the polls

PESHAWAR: As newly-elected lawmakers took their oath and prepared to form a government in the province amid complaints of election rigging, the caretaker government has distanced itself from the conduct of polling activity, holding the apex poll body responsible for any shortcomings.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retired) Dost Muhammad Khan on Monday stated that on election day, his administration was only responsible for providing a peaceful environment for the people to vote while it was the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) who was responsible for conducting the elections.

At around 6pm on July 25, when the polls closed, Justice Dost said that it also concluded his administration’s job.

He urged political parties not to accuse the caretaker government for their defeat in the elections.

“Whatever happened after 6pm on election day is not the responsibility of the caretaker government,” the interim chief minister said while addressing the Peshawar High Court Bar association on Monday.

Political parties in the province have alleged that their mandate was stolen after 6pm when voting time came to an end.

Justice Dost further explained that caretaker governments do not have enough power or authority to conduct elections. He further clarified that their job was to primarily ensure a peaceful and conducive environment for the elections which, he claimed, they were successful in providing.

“We have done whatever was possible for a free and fair election,” the interim chief minister claimed, adding that there were some security threats on election day but that no untoward situation took place in the province.

He added that it does not bode well for the country that heads of multiple political parties find themselves outside the parliament, adding that the situation in the country would have been quite different had they made it to the parliament.

The former supreme court justice maintained that democracy remains the best form of government for the country, regardless of the condition it finds itself in, therefore, now all efforts should be made to system stronger in the country.

The interim CM stressed the all institutions must work within the provided power structure and per authority assigned to them by the constitution if they want to steer the country out from its current predicament.

Talking about the issues faced by the provincial government, the interim CM said that being in power for few months, he has realized that running the running the province will not be an easy task and upcoming administration have to do more work, especially in education and health sector.  

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th, 2018.