20th advantage

It augurs well for our democracy and indicates that the govt is eager to iron out the wrinkles which mar the system.

After running into some unexpected hurdles in the Senate, the Twentieth Amendment Bill has finally been passed, albeit with two dissenters. While the bill aimed at introducing changes in the manner in which the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is set up, had sailed smoothly through the National Assembly, it met with some opposition from PPP allies in the Upper House. But all this notwithstanding, the fact of the matter is that a new amendment with wide-reaching effects now becomes a part of the law of the land. The 28 legislators — from the Senate, the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies — who had lost their places in houses after being disqualified by the Supreme Court on the basis that the ECP’s membership was not complete at the time they were voted in through by-elections, now regain their places. However, the impact of the Twentieth Amendment goes beyond this. The question is not one of restoring MNAs, senators or MPAs to their seats but bringing about wider change which can help our system function more smoothly in the future.

The Amendment laid down definite rules for the setting up of an interim administration ahead of elections. It also strengthens the ECP and its role in the balloting process. This is vital. The ECP is the central player in the vital game of balloting — which we should be seeing not very far from now — and there was always a great need to ensure that it was able to act with authority and determine the manner in which the contest for seats takes place. Dispute resolution will, of course, in our environment, also inevitably be a part of the ECP’s role. As such, the passage of the Twentieth Amendment is to be welcomed.

In many ways it augurs well for our democracy and indicates that the government is eager to iron out the wrinkles which mar the system. It also shows a much-needed maturity among the country’s mainstream political parties and should silence all those who are sceptical of democracy.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2012.