Timely polls

Our democracy needs regularity, order and end to perpetual instability. But challenges will need to be overcome.

Rumours that have continued to do the rounds that elections would be delayed — mainly on account of the law and order situation — were stomped over on November 27, as both the secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the information minister stated on separate occasions that this would not be the case. In a lunch hosted for journalists by the latter, it was stated the polls would indeed be held on time and a caretaker set-up would be established after building consensus with the opposition. The same positive note was struck by the ECP secretary who, in a talk with the media, emphasised that the Commission was fully prepared and committed to holding polls on schedule.

This is welcome news. Our democracy needs regularity, order and an end to perpetual instability. But there are, of course, challenges which will need to be overcome since the ECP is already confronted with a spate of potential problems. While the election commission has already turned down a request from the Balochistan government that polls to the provincial assembly be delayed, it is going ahead with a by-poll in Zhob for a provincial assembly seat that fell vacant following the death of an MPA. The situation in Karachi, however, is potentially more complex. The problem in the country’s largest city pertains to electoral rolls and constituency delimitations. Last week, the Supreme Court ordered the ECP to look into the matter after receiving complaints that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement had pushed thousands of votes out of the city, quite obviously as a tactic intended to retain its own hold over it.

Sorting out this delicate and potentially messy business will not be easy. But it is encouraging that the ECP seems determined to move ahead with all that is to be done, promising doorstep voter checks in Karachi. A threat of violence also hangs over the polls given the prevailing situation in the country. But the expression of commitment from both the government and the Commission should help calm rumours and set in place the administrative and political momentum required ahead of what will be a massive voting exercise involving millions of people across the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2012.