Daily Times

The speakers at a seminar on Imperatives for Credible Electoral Process were unanimous to express that if the 2018 elections are delayed, it would harm Pakistan gravely.

They said this time the possibilities of holding the most reliable elections are optimum. However, they hinted dangers which are hovering in the atmosphere and emphasised that we should adopt compatible measures to offset them.

The seminar was organised by PINA in collaboration with Punjab University Centre for South Asian Studies & Pakistan Studies Centre.

Justice (r) Faqir Muhammad Khokhar presided over, while former federal minister SM Zafar was the chief guest at the seminar. Others who spoke at the seminar included Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development & Transparency (PILDAT) President Ahmad Bilal Mahboob, Professor Dr Ambreen Javed, Professor Dr Shafiq Jalandhary, Sajjad Mir, Dr Amanullah Malik, Dr Hussain Ahmad Piracha, Qayyum Nizami, Ehsan Wyne, Muhammad Mehdi, Advocate Zaheer Ahmad Mir and Professor Dr Saad Siddiqi.

PINA Secretary General Altaf Hassan Qureshi said that we should put up suggestions to make the electoral process more reliable and credible, so that sustainability of democracy continues and the impression of the people’s rule is engraved deeper.

He said the dynamics of evolving electoral process into a credible exercise exist. Our efforts should be not to allow political parties to venture into inter party conflicts and should accept the results of elections whole heartedly. All this calls for putting heavy responsibilities on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to provide even playing field to the political parties.

PILDAT President Ahmad Bilal Mahboob, while reviewing the past 10 General Elections, said that 2018 elections have the potential of turning into the most credible ever exercise.

The Electoral Act 2017 is the testimony of rendering electoral laws better. ECP has been bestowed with increased powers. The voters’ lists are free of errors and the announcement of election results has been made foolproof. ECP should dispel the impression that certain political parties are subjected to targeting. He said that positioning of army personnel in and out of the polling stations may spell unnecessary suspensions to the fairness of polling.

In the opinion of Dr Amanullah Malik, we should play our role with honesty to make the electoral process a credible phenomenon. He said it is the practice of viable nations to learn from the mistakes of the past and to strike change in this circumstances.

Dr Shafiq Jallandhri paid tributes to the armed forces that by their unprecedented sacrifices, we are able to breathe in peace. This calls for respect to this institution. They too should guard the dignity their role.

Political leader Ehsan Wyne lamented that one of the political parties is being singled out for targeting it. This, he opined, obscures hope for transparent elections. He said that decisions of judiciary and National Accountability Bureau are influencing electoral process. Political parties are expressing that democracy is being subjected to adulteration, which the consciences people would not accept. Political analyst Qayyum Nizami said that it would be more worthwhile to make reliable electoral system rather than electoral process.

Published in Daily Times, July 4^th 2018.