Editorial ECP in the line of fire? On Monday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) released on its website a review report on 2013- general elections. It has been admitted in the report that various irregularities were committed during the elections. The report admitted that candidates got clearance to participate in elections without proper scrutiny, as the State Bank, FBR, NADRA and NAB did not cooperate fully with the Election Commission. The Returning Officers (ROs) taken from judiciary had the full authority to accept or reject nomination papers of the contesting candidates, as a result provisions of Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution were subjective, and the application of these clauses varied from one RO to another. Election Tribunals failed to give the decisions on the appeals on time and on merit. Caretaker governments failed in ensuring impartial and just elections. Meanwhile, the ECP has clarified that the Post Election Review Report 2013 shown on the ECP’s website was a summary of the recommendations received from various stakeholders including international observers, domestic observers and feedback provided by District Returning Officers, Returning Officers, Presiding Officers, polling officials, security officials, general public including male, female, youth, persons with disabilities and minorities. The purpose behind preparation of this report was to identify areas requiring further improvement based on lessons learnt during 2013 General Elections. One would not know why in the first instance ECP placed it on the website at this point in time when serious allegations are being leveled and protests and sit-ins are being staged against electoral fraud. Secondly, it was not mentioned in the title of the report that it consists of mere findings and recommendations by the observers. Thirdly, despite all these finds why ECP officials have been trying to convey an impression that 2013 elections were free, fair and impartial? It goes without saying that the ECP failed to discharge its fundamental responsibility i.e. conducting scrutiny to filter the candidates for national and provincial assemblies and to block the participation of fraudsters and those who got the bank loans written offs. The nation had expected that the ECP would perform its constitutional role without fear or favor, and filter out all those who evaded tax, defaulted on loans or indulged in criminal activities. But they disappointed the nation on every count. The ECP had the backing of the judiciary, the military and over and above all the people of Pakistan. Yet the ECP failed on every count, and it appeared as if ECP was on the side of status quo forces rather than the real stakeholders – the people of Pakistan. Since the members of the ECP had been nominated by the outgoing government and the opposition that belonged to status quo, naturally their nominees looked after their interest. In the previous assemblies, those with dual nationalities had graced vaingloriously its governmental quarters and legislative halls. The tax-evaders remained in the corridors of power and the high places of the state. Yet they had the gumption to parade themselves as the paragons of virtues and role models, which they were not. Their deceptive masks have now started coming apart. In view of inability of the ECP to discharge its responsibilities efficiently and effectively, there is a question mark on it, and also on the then Chief Election Commissioner Fakharuddin G. Ibrahim. The Provincial Election Commissions that were constituted with the consent of Leader of the Opposition are to blame in equal measure. Before the announcement of elections, hype was created that defaulters, the corrupt and tax evaders would have no chance to participate in the elections, as strict scrutiny would be carried out to screen them. Unfortunately, ECP could not implement articles 62 and 63 in letter and spirit, and tax evaders, defaulters of all sorts escaped the net. Since the ECP failed to discharge its duties efficiently and effectively, country has suffered a loss of more than Rs. 600 billion due to protests and sit-ins, there is need to send the ECP packing home. The so-called review report can be the basis for the Judicial Commission and, it should be a part of terms of reference. ECP should be constituted to the satisfaction of all the parties, as the election commission formed by the ruling in consultation with the Leader of the Opposition utterly failed to discharge its duties. There have been irregularities; and the Election Commission, Chief Election Commissioner and provincial election commissioners are to blame for the votes that could not be verified, or Nadra’s observations that CNIC numbers mentioned on hundreds of votes are fake.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 05:54:03 +0000
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