Impartial electoral body

The constitutional watchdog for holding elections is under the scanner. The Chief Election Commissioner, over the period of time, has come under scrutiny by PTI for his alleged favouritism. This is a debatable issue and one that needs an impartial probe as the head of ECP cannot be removed at whims and wishes. The unanimous resolution, in the absence of PML-N legislators’, in the Punjab Assembly demanding CEC’s dismissal has upped the ante. The floor also called for the holding of early general elections to bring the country out of the political and economic crises. Though resolutions are non-binding as per law, what they come to assail is an opinion of sorts and undoubtedly further an impression in the political premise, per se.

The resolution seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, and reconstituting the commission, will go a long way as political heat picks up. The verbatim goes on to blame CEC and the commission for alleged biasness, and for being in collusion with the ruling elite. It used the word ‘conspiracy’ to illustrate the act of dislodging the PTI government of then Prime Minister Imran Khan under a foreign plot. It said that the only way out is to hold fair and free elections to settle the dust on prevailing political anarchy.

PTI has been upbeat in its campaign against the incumbent, and it is hoped that a similar vote will also come its way from the assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. PTI holds no brief for CEC as he has been quite vocal in opposing the introduction of EVMs at polls and expediting the hearing of the foreign funding case. Coupled with this, he moved the Supreme Court against the instant holding of elections when PTI was ousted in April. Thus, this resolution seeking his dismissal just furthers the envelope.

The election body has a primitive role to play in public representation. It goes without saying that the maturity of democracy rests in an invincible and powerful election commission. As the country inches closer towards general elections, an impartial electoral body is indispensable.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2^nd, 2022.

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