Recently, the personality of the CEC has become a subject of some TV shows. At least one anchor is most concerned. But there are others also. Some of the things quoted are funny. In a TV programme this week a very senior journalist on phone from the USA mentioned an interesting story. It goes like this: our wise journalist of ‘chirya’ fame was in a book show in Karachi some weeks ago and there he met with the CEC. This is of course before Mr Najam Sethi assumed the charge of Punjab chief minister for about 40 days. In the show under reference, it was narrated by a distinguished journalist, Mr. Sehbai that Mr Fakhruddin G Iibrahim, the CEC, asked Mr Sethi, “Are the General Elections actually going to be held?” Watching the TV show the anchor person, and Mr. Babar Awan the other participant, appeared to be taken aback and so was I. But later I wondered if the CEC’s question could be treated as a joke. I don’t know what response Mr Sethi gave in response, or what his chirya reported, but I think the question is not just a joke. It is a reflection of the state of cynicism in our nation. Even the Chief Election Commissioner who is bound by the Constitution of Pakistan, and who has accepted the responsibility to do so is so uncertain that he has to ask someone else about the situation of his own assignment. Unfortunately, it also reveals a lack of confidence of the Chief has in himself. It is he who should be dispelling the doubts and make people confident of the application of the system. Why is he in doubt? If the story narrated by Mr Sehbai is true then our respected retired jurist needs to ponder a bit. Another story is taking rounds. This time again it is the CEC. It is said that the CEC was in a reception where, on his way out, he met a very impressive army general. So the CEC met him with courtesy and asked him to convey his best wishes to General Kiyani. The CEC did not realise that he was giving this message to General Kiyani himself! All such buzz is around because of the advanced age of the Mr Fakharuddin G Ibrahim, fondly known as Fakhru Bhai. I hate discrimination on the basis of age. In fact, I am against any kind of discrimination, but unfortunately age discrimination and gender discrimination are most prevalent. This is particularly so in jokes. There are many jokes at the expense of female gender, old age etc. However, the fact is that our CEC is advanced in age, perhaps 87 years of age. It is not the ideal age to take big challenges, and, holding ‘fair and free’ elections is the biggest ever challenge. One wonders if he actually realises how serious this assignment is! Unfortunately, Mr Ibrahim came across as a very frail person when he found it difficult even to read the name of the interim prime minister in front of the TV cameras. He struggled. He was prompted and still he did not know if the name was Khosa or Khussa or Khoso. On help from his staff he settled on Khoso and so the name of the interim prime minister became known. The interim prime minister wouldn’t be complaining, and must have understood. He himself is said to be 84 and highly experienced. One wishes the interim set up and the CEC the best of everything. We wish them success for their good, and more so for the good of the country. But I cannot help saying that these choices are, once again, a failure of our politicians. The seasoned politicians take pride in having completed the full constitutional term of five years, but they could not locate a few capable and competent middle aged people out of the whole 20o million of population who could conduct the elections? No technocrats, businessmen, professionals, scholars, management specialists etc.? There are several, civil or military, retired persons of recent years also. There must be some lawmakers, attorneys of character. Someone could be trusted. Even the names suggested by the politicians could not acquire consensus and the good old Fakhru Bhai had to intervene. All this speaks of the distrust, and cynicism rooted in the national polity. Politicians are allergic to the armed forces, but still they need their help to conduct the elections. In fact, the only guarantor of the polling booth safety can be the armed forces. What goes on prior to the voter entering the booth and afterwards is not what the armed forces can take care off. In fact, all rigging happens before or after. The Chief Election Commissioner promises ‘free and fair’ elections and I would like to hope that he knows what he is talking about. He needs to understand that it is not only the polling day, the dye for rigging gets cast much earlier. Lot of people believe that a dye in favour of the ‘status quo’ has already been cast. It is very likely that the people of Pakistan will have more of the same thing again. The parties of ‘change’ like the APML, TI, MQM are trying their best, but so are the ‘status Quo’ parties. My perception is that no one in this country is satisfied with the performance of the outgoing national and provincial governments. In fact, people are completely fed up. But they will not see a ‘change’. Fakhru Bhai or the new set up may prove irrelevant. People will have to be pro-active now without delay; watch their interest; recognise the tools of rigging, and destroy them. If the people for ‘change’ are late this time then they may be ‘late’ forever. For the CEC I can only say that its task is no joke, it is a very serious challenge and so it is for the 40 day interim governments. The writer is the former CEO Pakistan National Council of the Arts; Chairman Fruit processing Industries; Chairman UNESCO Theatre Institute Pakistan; COO ‘ICTV’ USA, and currently, Senior Vice President APML(Central). He can be reached at naeemtahir37@gmail.com