Polling arrangements have come full circle as the nation prepares to vote tomorrow. The February 8 ballot will long be remembered for pestering political instability and the crests and troughs that the electoral process had seen in the administrative and judicial domains. From the return of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif from exile to incarceration of PTI chief Imran Khan, it has been a contested affair, and the verdict is yet to be cast. The mushrooming of new political factions and split in the existing ones has crafted a wide mosaic of choice and convenience for the voters. It is, however, a good omen that the electoral watchdog has completed the task of delivering 260 million ballot papers to district returning officers for national and provincial constituencies, and a total of 128,585,760 voters registered as of December 13, 2023 in all the four provinces and Islamabad territory will be exercising their right of adult franchise at 90,777 polling stations countrywide.
The upcoming ballot, however, has bred some reservations pertaining to the new Election Management System. Though the Election Commission is sure that glitches, if any, will be taken care of, many fear that the repeat of 2018 dilemma of Form-45 and RTS breakdown can spoil the show altogether this time too. This is where extreme caution is desired to ensure smooth counting of votes, and their satisfactory sign-off from all the polling agents. To dispel concerns, the ECP has assured that the EMS backup servers are linked to Nadra, and thus owe credibility in functioning and transparency. Coupled with this is an online platform to facilitate and address media complaints, as well as the presence of international monitors to vet the vote.
The future of Pakistan’s progress and stability rests on the credible outcome of the February 8 vote. This is why a free and fair ballot is indispensable. While the campaign trajectory had been uneven, especially as the PTI struggled to reach out to its supporters, it is time for the state machinery to be judicious in compiling the verdict in the larger national interest.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2024.
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