Election ethics: New code of conduct for caretaker government urged

Civil society organisation calls for transparency within interim set-up.

ISLAMABAD:

A civil society organisation has called for a new code of conduct for the caretaker government to be prepared ahead of the dissolution of the lower house .

The step will ensure neutrality of the interim administration in the upcoming elections, said a press release issued by Centre for Civic Education (CCE) on Thursday.

Expressing confidence in the demands of the constitution regarding a “neutral caretaker set-up”, the CCE strongly advised the Senate to form a multi-party oversight committee to prevent potential abuses of power.

The said committee would be responsible for drafting a new code - issued as an ordinance by the President - that restricts the caretaker government’s day-to-day custodian duties, said an official of CCE.



Following the elections, this code could form the basis for limiting the power of future caretaker governments, if passed into law by the new parliament.

Previous caretaker governments have made major policy reforms and decisions, entered into international agreements and have been accused of using state resources to finance political campaigning, overstretching the scope of their office and compromising the neutrality of elections.



In light of these indiscretions, the CCE proposals mandate restrictions on major executive appointments and international agreements with long-term consequences, while also demanding full disclosure of financial information on spending and income during the caretaker government’s period in office.

“In the absence of an elected authority, the job of a caretaker government should be limited to what its voters rightly expect - continuity and security while they make their decision on the future government of Pakistan,” said an official from CCE.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2013.