The LB poll muddle

Given the significance of LG polls for democracy, we should move ahead with it wherever we can as quickly as possible.

In any democracy, the holding of local government polls should not really be a very complex affair. In ours, it has turned into a gigantic muddle, which is proving more and more difficult to sort out and to achieve some degree of clarity. While the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had on November 6 notified a schedule for the polls, with balloting set for November 27 in Sindh and December 7 in Punjab, ECP officials have conceded that this step came in response to pressure from the Supreme Court (SC), which had previously turned down an appeal seeking more time to conduct the polls. In compliance with the orders of the apex Court, the ECP had written to the secretary establishment requesting that everything possible be done to hold polling on time, with provisions made to provide the required ballot papers, ink and so on.



We now have yet another twist to the tale, as the local bodies saga continues to unfold along the lines of a soap opera. In a somewhat unexpected move, the National Assembly (NA) on November 7 passed a unanimous resolution, in which it essentially said that if the polls could not be held properly, and in a fair and free manner now, they should be pushed back. While no direct mention was made of the SC, the reference was quite clear, with leader after leader demonstrating an unusual consensus as they asked what rush there was to hold the polls and expressed fears the process would not be transparent. Particular concern was raised over the Printing Press of Pakistan’s capacity to produce the required number of ballot papers on time, and opposition voiced to any private press being entrusted with this mammoth task.

It may be noted that local bodies polls are a gigantic balloting exercise, far bigger in scale than even the general elections. It is also, of course, essential that they be carried out in a manner that can ensure there is no doubt that the entire process was conducted fairly and as per the rules. While the NA resolution is not binding, it does in this sense raise pertinent points about why we should be attempting to rush ahead with so crucial an exercise. Given that a long delay, beyond the constitutionally mandated period has already occurred, a few weeks more should not make much difference, especially if at the end of these we can be more certain things will be conducted without hitch and without allegations arising of wrongdoing. Key political parties, including the PTI, still locked in battle over accusations of rigging in the May polls, have in particular warned this would be unacceptable.

But having said all this, we should also look into the question of why it has been necessary to become engaged in so convoluted a situation over what should be a fairly simple matter. Perhaps, the provinces would be in the best position to answer this query. Both Punjab and Sindh, after all, had six months to complete preparations for the polls and conduct the required delimitations and other measures. They chose not to do so. Instead, legal officers of both provinces appearing before the Court insisted they were prepared — a stance that the ECP has since said was an untruth intended only to win brownie points with the judiciary. The position of the provinces and their ability to conduct the polls is still not quite clear. There are also other mysteries. While Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is still in the process of finalising a brand new local government law, Balochistan had been ready to move on with the polls and the ECP had already notified December 7 as the date for this. Why the NA has decided then to also include this province when it says the polls should be held back, is difficult to understand. Surely, given the significance of this balloting for our democracy, we should move ahead with it wherever we can as quickly as possible, and in other places, do everything we can to avoid further delay.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2013.

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