Caretaker set-up

The only major task entrusted to caretaker governments is that they ensure holding of elections without interference.

Even as the government and opposition parties are unable to agree on a caretaker prime minister at the centre, the provinces have been springing into action choosing their chief ministers for this transitional period. In both Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, retired judges Zahid Qurban Alvi and Tariq Parvez, respectively, have been chosen to head the caretaker governments. The PPP had earlier categorically stated that it did not want any retired judges or military men to be part of the caretaker set-ups and while it has stood firm on the latter condition, its flexibility on the former has helped with the smooth transfer of power in the two provinces.

We will only know the wisdom of the choices over the next two months and beyond as election campaigning begins but in an ideal situation, the caretaker governments will be neither seen nor heard. It is not their job to take any major legislative decisions; they are simply there as neutral occupants of these positions till the voters decide who should best fill them. The only major task entrusted to the caretaker governments is that they ensure the holding of elections without any interference from outside forces, mainly the military. Even here, the lead should be taken by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which is constitutionally empowered to make most major decisions regarding electioneering and balloting. The caretaker governments, at both the federal and provincial levels, need to back up the ECP and communicate to the people any possible threats to the holding of free and fair elections.



So far, all the political parties, the ECP and the Supreme Court seem committed to holding fair elections on time. But Pakistan is entering uncharted territory. Never before has a democratically-elected government served out its term and never before have civilians had a chance to choose a caretaker set-up. We will also, assuming all goes well, have a successful transition of democratic power for the first time. Given how unprecedented this is, it is no surprise that people are nervous and even a little paranoid about the process. It should be the job of the caretaker governments to calm nerves and demonstrate that they are around only to hand over power to those selected by the people.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2013.