No more dharnas

It is not for PTI to challenge ‘moral authority’ of the ECP when its own ‘moral authority’ often hangs by a whisker

Once again Imran Khan, chairman of the Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has brought before the nation the prospect of yet another dharna, this time convened in an effort to unseat members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Workers of the PTI are being asked to gather outside the offices of the ECP on October 4 if Mr Khan’s demands for resignations are not met. The prospect of yet another open-ended disruption of life in the capital is welcomed by few outside the inner circles of the PTI — as well as those looking forward to another prolonged street party.

The problem with Mr Khan is that he gets things nearly right — there was no organised plot to rig the polls nationwide at the last elections but incompetence and corruption aplenty — and then gets it wrong trying to right the wrongs he perceives everywhere. The report of the judicial commission into allegations of rigging in the 2013 elections does indeed reveal an ECP that was incapable of adequately delivering on its primary task — namely the organising of free and fair elections. There are serious faults in the system and they need to be corrected.

The ECP is indeed in need of reform, as is the electoral system in its entirety. However, bringing the capital to a grinding halt for an indeterminate period is not the best way to achieve that. The PTI needs to be inside parliament honing its skills in the political arena rather than indulging in rabble-rousing on the streets. If the elected members of the PTI are serious about promoting democracy, then they need to be in the place that is the seat of democratic process — and reform. That is what parliament is there for and if they are not prepared to use this primary democratic tool, then they can vacate their seats. It is not for the PTI to challenge the ‘moral authority’ of the ECP when its own ‘moral authority’ often hangs by a whisker. So near and yet so far, Mr Khan.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd,  2015.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.