Editorial

Electoral reforms

It is to be hoped that real reform does flow from a political imbroglio that nobody emerges from with much credit

Editorial July 27, 2015

Time to stop the huffing and puffing and get down to brass tacks — and there are no tacks brassier than the Election Commission of Pakistan, which the report reveals as little more than an aggregation of incompetencies. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD NOMAN/EXPRESS

With the electoral inquiry commission report now seen and presumably read by all concerned parties, it is time for a reckoning. There has been a grudging acceptance of the report by Imran Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, coupled with a demand that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif apologise to the nation for the delay in setting up the inquiry. As Mr Khan is unlikely to apologise for the 126-day disruption he caused then, so is the prime minister unlikely to apologise for his actions either, and it is time for everybody in the political bear pit to move on. The judicial commission (JC) was perhaps stretching credulity somewhat when it said that “in large part (the elections) were organised and conducted fairly and in accordance with the law”. Be that as it may, in any number of thoroughly documented instances they were not, and that has to be a matter of concern. For many millions denied the vote, these were anything but free and fair elections, even if the rigging that happened might not have occurred as part of an organised conspiracy.

There is much that needs to be repaired and renovated about the electoral process in Pakistan, and the report of the commission provides a timely opportunity for that to happen. Time to stop the huffing and puffing and get down to brass tacks — and there are no tacks brassier than the Election Commission of Pakistan, which the report reveals as little more than an aggregation of incompetencies. There is no point in calling for heads to roll unless they are replaced by heads somewhat better furnished with a working brain. The prime minister has announced that he has directed senior officials to draw up an agenda of electoral reform. This is to be presented to parliament within two months. There is said to have already been considerable work done in this respect, and it is to be hoped that real reform does flow from a political imbroglio that nobody emerges from with much credit. As observed previously in these columns, the failures identified by the JC were as much of people as of processes, a fact we trust those charged with writing the reforms duly note. Let the next election be free and fair — for all.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2015.

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COMMENTS (1)

Usman Ajmal | 9 years ago | Reply Just like E.T. and Dawn never offered any insight or help into vote reform, they are now celebrating the failure of action of a JC formed for just the purpose. If only this lobby was more critical of the feudals (PPP) and the business elite (PMLN), people would prefer shortcuts like Martial Law, less and less. But the English Print media lobby cannot see beyond their hate of Imran Khan for snatching away from them the moral high ground. . I say it again, the JC was a complete victory for PTI as it exposed rigging on an immense scale, ECP officials who never thought would be questioned were put in the dock. That's a victory . The dharna exposed the PMLN as an ally of the PPP. That's a victory . The dharna restored the balance of power by diminishing Nawaz's Saudi King style ruling habits to a more pliable stakeholder. That's a victory . PTI's vote bank swelled, Imran Khan's stature grew as a man to be feared in Pakistan's politics, Army's restored confidence and space leading to MQM's demise, the list goes on. And some analysts (not the author) are still stuck on dharna failed and Imran Khan humiliated etc. etc. Completely agree with the author and I will say this: The JC outcome was by no means a setback for the PTI in anyway. The details outlined the commission's report are proof of rigging and irregularities and will go someway into ensuring free and fair elections in Pakistan in the future.

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