After wasting four decades (1977 to 2017), some measure of political cleansing has finally begun in Pakistan. While this effort is commendable, the process of producing ‘political jackals’ like the Sharifs of Lahore and Chaudhrys of Gujrat should stop. The use of rogue politicians to manipulate the ballots has been disastrous. For democracy to take root, the next election should be free and fair. Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) must ensure a level playing field for all parties. Over the years so much dirt and filth has accumulated in the political arena that surgical cleansing and ruthless accountability was unavoidable. A free and fair election is in itself a cleansing process but only if the electoral process is credible. With their long stints in power, both the PML-N and PPP have encroached on all state institutions. Only in the Punjab Police, it has been reported that over 30,000 individuals with criminal records have been recruited since 1985. It is not just corruption, the men in uniform are also involved in other nefarious criminal activities. When I drive down the ‘FC Road’ now called ‘Zahoor Elahi Road’, the thoroughfare is blocked by Police vehicles Parked outside the Chaudhry’s residence. Governments may come and go but the menace remains. When Zahoor Elahi contested and badly lost the 1970 elections against Bhutto he was given the title of ‘Chor Sepoy’ (Thief Sepoy) as he was dismissed from the Police Service for massive corruption. The road should either be renamed ‘Chor Sepoy’ boulevard or its original name of FCC should be restored and the Police withdrawn from this area as its presence send the wrong signal. During Ayub Khan’s regime there were rumours of Dr Javed Iqbal being inducted into the provincial cabinet. On inquiry he found out that the General was looking for scoundrels and rascals not upright professionals like him. The practice of using corrupt individuals in politics was continued by the three military regimes that followed. Zia’s contribution was most lethal in introducing unscrupulous traders and businessmen into politics. Musharraf started off well, but eventually fell into the same trap. The pile of dirt is even higher and deeper today. With their long stints in power, both the PML-N and PPP have encroached on all state institutions. In the Punjab Police alone, it has been reported that over 30,000 individuals with criminal records have been recruited since 1985 Cleansing should continue, PTI may emerge as the single largest party in the parliament and then form the government but it too should not risk taking the corrupt to the Prime Minister House. A credible ballot with level playing field after clean up should be the way forward. Voters should only vote only for clean candidates even if it means they have to cross party lines. Most political parties and their workers are not reading between the lines. Corruption will not remain as tolerated as it was before, thanks to the Imran Khan’s relentless crusade. History will remember Imran Khan for his historic struggle but at the same time Nawaz Sharif will be remembered for invoking Article 6 of the Constitution for the first time, thereby blocking all future martial laws. Now everyone is talking about the grossly overlooked and ignored constitution of the Islamic Republic. For law to be effective it has to be applied in totality and not selectively. Elections have to be free and fair but only the candidates who fulfil the constitutional requirements should be allowed to contest. Yesterday I happened to come across some interesting news. A Punjab Police employee had taken leave and was caught canvassing for PML-N. Then there is an army of civil servants who were employed by the Public Sector companies at exorbitant salaries running into millions. The Supreme Court has ordered for an audit of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) whose Chief Executive Officer (CEO) was drawing a salary amounting to close to Rs 4 million per month. The Revenue and Educational Departments are full of political appointees who remain faithful to their masters. The interim government in Punjab is trying to minimize their influence but that has proven to be a difficult task. For a credible ballot, all parties must agree on the code of conduct to be monitored and implemented by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). In the past, PML-N has been a beneficiary of manipulated ballots, hence they themselves have not played on a level playing field. Twice they have been able to gain an absolute majority by manipulating the electoral exercise, hopefully they may not have this luxury this time around but the pendulum should not swing in the other direction either, otherwise it will be a futile exercise. The empires have to be neutral for meaningful results. The civil society and media are vigilant this time around. Manipulation by any party will not be tolerated. The days of ‘Jhurlos’ are over and they should not be tried again as it equally hurts both the winner and loser with democracy being the biggest victim. One credible ballot in seventy years is a very poor track record. Things cannot continue this way. On August 14, 1973 Pakistan became a constitutional democracy. This consensual document deserves respect. All national institutions must learn to operate within their defined boundaries. Corruption and manipulation will not be tolerated by the masses any longer, this message should be understood loud and clear, we demand a level playing field for all. For civilian supremacy the will of the people has to prevail as it did in the elections of 1946 and 1970, the days of the ‘political jackals’ are over. The writer is Ex-Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation he can be contacted at fmaliks@hotmail.com Published in Daily Times, July 20th 2018.