Establishment’s backing?: Don’t worry about Qadri, Kayani told CEC, hold polls

In a meeting, army chief assured Fakhruddin G Ebrahim of complete support.

KARACHI:

It was a small assurance from a big man that separated the wheat from the political chaff.

It came when Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim had met General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at NADRA’s office last month. “Don’t worry what Tahirul Qadri might say, hold the elections,” Ebrahim quoted the army chief as telling him. Indeed, these words lay to rest any whisperings that the establishment had backed the fire-and-brimstone cleric who most opposition parties had said was a puppet.

In an interview on Wednesday, Ebrahim recalled his meeting with the army chief that day.

“You won’t believe that was the first time I saw him,” said the chief election commissioner, who had turned to speak to whom he thought was a high-ranking army officer at the meeting.  “I asked him to give my regards to General Kayani and he said, ‘I AM Kayani’.”

These minor hiccups aside, Kayani had conveyed the message to the man supposed to see the elections through that Qadri was just a blip on the political scene. The show would go on. “The impression I got after meeting him was encouraging,” Ebrahim said. “He offered complete support for holding fair and impartial elections.”

Key to that will be the code of conduct that the commission laid down the day before. “My advice to President Asif Ali Zardari will be to respect the office of the President and stay away from election campaigning,” Ebrahim said. Otherwise the election commission has tools at its disposal if the president, prime minister, chief ministers and governors try any mischief. “I will ensure an even playing field for all candidates and political parties,” the chief election commissioner stressed.

Campaign spending on advertisements in newspapers and on TV, transport and the use of development funds before the elections will all be taken care of, Ebrahim said in categorical terms. “If in a country like India, candidates were not allowed [close] when people went to the polling stations, why can’t our voters do the same,” he asked.

He does hope, however, that the media remains impartial. “If we really want democracy to flourish, the media must not become party to anyone and I have lot of hope that they will play their role.”

Conditions will be tough on the election nomination forms, which will be open to the public.

Candidates will have to give information such as their income tax number, details about dual nationality, performance if they are an elected representative in the National or provincial assemblies, details of cases, bank default. Ebrahim said that voters should hold the candidates accountable from the day they file their nominations. “Any voter can file an objection on any candidate,” he added.

Ebrahim was clear that any attempts to extend the term of the interim set-up would make him reconsider his future as the chief election commissioner. “All such attempts will be in violation of the Constitution, and a disaster for the country,” he said.

As for the demand made by Tahirul Qadri that the government dissolve the election commission, Ebrahim said, “The Constitution is very clear about the members of the EC, who are equal and can only be removed through the Supreme Judicial Council.”

Overall though, he was hopeful. In this election about 85 million registered voters can exercise their right to adult franchise. “If 60 to 70 per cent of voters, which include a very large number of young people, come out,” said Ebrahim, “I am sure democracy will take root.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2013.