Indian election commission asks ECP to improve credibility

ECP to hold meeting with political parties on electoral rolls.

ISLAMABAD:

A visiting delegation from the Indian election commission has advised its Pakistani counterpart to ensure greater credibility in the electoral process to improve voter turnout. The two countries decided to share their experiences to learn from each other after the recent thaw in bilateral relations.

Indian Chief Election Commissioner SY Qureshi told the Pakistani officials that Indian officials closely monitor election campaigns during a visit to the commission’s head office on Saturday. “Every political party has to maintain an account of all its political activities which is directly monitored by the commission. We keep a check on the finances of political parties,” he said.

“We make videos of public meetings and our auditors crosscheck the expenses they claim to have incurred.”

In Pakistan, every registered political party is bound by law to file its statements every year, but there is no mechanism to verify the claims. Indian election officials told their Pakistani counterparts that the commission verifies statements of accounts of all party members with the help of income tax officials which makes it difficult for them to conceal information.

The Indian election commission runs a perpetual public awareness campaign to encourage voter participation, contrary to the practice in Pakistan, where campaigns are launched just before elections. “Once people have faith in the electoral system, the turnout will improve,” An ECP official said, quoting a member of the delegation. ECP officials have been invited to India by the delegation for a first-hand experience.

The ECP will hold its 4th consultative meeting with political parties on electoral rolls on September 13, 2011, stated a press release. Secretary ECP Ishtiak Ahmed Khan said the commission is taking steps to make the electoral process more effective, free, fair and credible. Since political parties are key stakeholders, an open and transparent approach is essential to foster a feeling of inclusiveness in the electoral process, reads the statement.

Now, that the ECP has been given more financial and administrative autonomy after the 18th constitutional amendment, it may be better placed to act on the Indian delegation’s advice.



Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2011.