Daily Times

Wherever we media persons are among the masses, the first question asked is whether the general elections would be held on time. As the present set up has only a couple of weeks left, why are government and opposition not holding a serious dialogue on the caretaker setup? What and for whom are they waiting? Naturally, these are perplexing questions. We have experienced many political misadventures and unconstitutional interference in our cloudy political history. Thus whatever political or other developments take place, immediately speculations and conspiracy theories start producing unique stuff.

One has to evaluate and judge these speculations and conspiracy theories on certain fundamentals. In the past, the democratic system was derailed by the combination of two powerful state institutions: the army, which used to take over the country for its own political, economic and national security reasons, while the superior judiciary used to give tacit approval under the ‘doctrine of necessity’.

Many politicians from the opposition and some defeated elements frequently approached GHQ, particularly the COAS, persuading and encouraging him to take over and offering their services for legal and constitutional cover to his unconstitutional act, if need be.

However, today the political philosophy and fundamental thinking of the major stakeholders including politicians, the army and the judiciary has partially changed. COAS General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani has once again reiterated his doctrine of non-interference in the country’s political matters and called for free, fair and transparent elections, promising to extend all support to those elected by the masses. The Supreme Court (SC) has also time and again spoken through its various judgments and remarks that the vote is the only method through which a political change is possible.

The recent decision by the SC in reference to Professor Dr Tahirul Qadri’s petition for the dissolution of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was a loud and clear message that no effort would be encouraged or accommodated by the courts for delaying the upcoming general elections.

Similarly, all political parties, within or outside parliament, are on the same page that no delay or postponement of the elections would be tolerated. In addition to all the main stakeholders, media and civil society are equally vigilant and sensitive towards the timely holding of elections. Therefore, despite serious law and order challenges and acts of terrorism, the elections would be held and that too on time.

It is time to focus on the election process and its preparations. We should try to contribute whatever we can in assisting the ECP to fulfil its constitutional responsibility in a mature, transparent, neutral and independent manner. There is no doubt that the powers that have been given to the ECP through the 18th and 20th amendments had never before been available to this vital institution. I remember some political commentators and analysts were surprised that parliamentarians agreed to empower the ECP to appoint a caretaker prime minister in case government and opposition failed to evolve consensus within the stipulated time-period. It is now the responsibility of the ECP to demonstrate maturity by assuring the masses that they would not be disappointed.

We have seen that the present ECP is involved in a strategic reforms programme for the past three years and introduced a number of positive changes in the election codes, rules and regulations. The introduction of an 18-point declaration paper by the contesting candidates is a very positive step. The ECP wants to implement Articles 62 and 63 through certain new rules and regulations, so that only honest, decent and law-abiding citizens should get the opportunity to reach the power corridors. We wish good luck to the ECP.

However, it was really surprising why the commission instead of focusing on the coming general elections, especially on voters and their related issues, was wasting its precious time and energies on fake degree holders at this point. Will it reject the nomination papers of those who submitted fake degrees to the ECP in 2008?

‘Dishonest’ parliamentarians have already cheated the nation and dodged the ECP in 2008. The BA degree requirement has already been removed through the 18th amendment. Then why so much hue and cry now? People ask if the ECP is so serious and concerned about the SC’s order against fake degree holders it should have launched verification of parliamentarians’ degrees soon after the decision. There is no method in the ‘madness’ of the ECP. It has indulged in controversial matters at the wrong time.

The ECP has forgotten about the basic function of the voters’ correction process. Hundreds of thousands of voters in different parts of the country still need to know where and how they have to get their vote registered.

Some bright brains in the ECP did launch the 8300 service to make it easy for voters to check their votes and constituencies. But unfortunately, information about this new technology and methodology has not been conveyed to the public on a frequent basis. Even many in the main metropolitan cities are ignorant about the whole process.

The ECP should have intelligently utilised TV and Radio channels, as well as social media, which have wide access to people in every nook and corner of the country. But so far nothing substantial has happened. It seems there is an old mindset in the ECP that does not want to utilise this new technology for voters’ education.

We have witnessed occasional media campaigns in the form of print and electronic ads for the voters’ education, which was really a good effort and needs to be appreciated. But, sirs, the work that the ECP has done regarding voters’ verification, registration, code of conduct for the candidates and political parties and other major reforms introduced for holding free, fair and transparent elections, all these positive aspects have not been properly brought to the knowledge of various stakeholders. You keep on making new laws and compiling them in files, but the fact of the matter is that at the end of the day it would not make any difference until the public really knows about it and follows/practices it too.

Here it is media that could have made a real difference. It is still not too late and the ECP can utilise Radio and TV channels, both in private and public sectors, to educate voters and other stakeholders. So far even media do not know what kind of technical and financial support the foreign agencies attached with the ECP have been extending, but at least they could have helped the commission in its educating programmes.

We know through the ECP press releases that these prestigious organisations hold regular meetings with the ECP officials, which is a good practice, but the nation wants results. If only closed door meetings are the mission of these assisting agencies, we do not need them. Our neighbour, India, gets neither any technical assistance from foreign agencies for elections nor does it allow foreign observers to monitor its elections. I don’t know why we are so fond of Europeans/Americans to come and give us a certificate of honesty. We need to think why.

The writer is the host of Talking Policy on Business Plus and can be reached on Waheed.h35@gmail.com