Instead of focusing on electoral reforms, we should make efforts to ensure better election management in the country.
LAHORE: Addressing massive public rallies on May 11, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek leader Allama Tahirul Qadri demanded the introduction of extensive electoral reforms in Pakistan. Indeed, nobody can deny the importance of the electoral process in any democratic political dispensation. In fact, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is a constitutional institution whose authority and independence has been secured by our constitution itself.
An impartial caretaker government further helps the ECP in the free and fair holding of the general elections in the country. Likewise, The Representation of the People Act of 1973 is an exhaustive law which deals with various aspects of the electoral process, including procedural matters, dispute resolution mechanism, qualifications and code of conduct for the candidates.
Instead of focusing more on electoral reforms, we should make sincere efforts to ensure better election management in the country. This includes effective and efficient enforcement of existing electoral laws and regulations and addressing the administrative loopholes present within the electoral system. Election management essentially has three steps: pre-election, election-day and post-election measures. Besides exceeding the prescribed limit of election expenses, there have been complaints of frequent and open violations of the code of conduct by the candidates during the elections.
The management of the polling day itself is most crucial. For their electoral functions, returning officers should directly be answerable to the ECP. Now we have certain modern biometrics that can ensure the accurate identification and authentication of individual voters. Besides law-enforcement agencies, the help of the military should be sought to ensure the security of the voters and the polling staff. As in India, the elections can be held in different phases to overcome resource deficiencies.
Speedy disposal of the post-election disputes can also be made possible by increasing the number of election tribunals.
Mohsin Raza Malik
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2014.
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