Chowrangi

Let’s assume that elections will occur in the homeland sooner than latter. To make the election free and fair and transparent, host of steps need to be taken seriously and in good faith. All the stake-holders including Election Commission, government, political parties and voters should play their part.

Election commission of Pakistan (ECP) and political parties should work together to agree on a set of rules for elections to provide a level-playing field to all stake-holders for free and fair general elections. They should put forward meaningful, realistic and implementable solutions for the challenges faced in regard of elections.

First president should not support any political party. The office of President is a symbol of the unity of the state and the holder of the office cannot and should not act partisan at any time. The role of ECP is very very crucial in this regard. ECP has to go beyond expressing displeasure and bring the conduct of the holder of the office, as well as other stakeholders. The president shouldnt show any inclination towards or promote a lobby or group on the basis of its ideology, ethnic or linguistic identity or faith.

It is the law of the land that must decide which political party, group or individual can contest elections and the government shouldnt be making such statements, which defies or impinges on the legal and constitutional right of any Pakistani citizen or party to contest the elections.

President should neither attend any public meeting, rally or congregation organized by or organized for the benefit of a political party or alliance nor promise or announce any special or preferential package or programme from public funds for any constituency or area.

The local governments are widely perceived to be the vehicles of election rigging in the previous elections. The local government Nazims and Naib Nazims should be made non-functional with effect from the date of announcing of election schedule till the finalization of election results. During the non-functional tenure of local government, bureaucracy can be appointed as a replacement.

During the elections, nation should show that they are awake and believe in democracy. The turnout should be maximum and one should strive at its own place to convince others to vote. But what should one do, if all the contestants from his constituency are the same old rogues?

Other posts by Commoner

• Just Brought About Change - August 27th, 2008
• Speck of Hope - August 27th, 2008
• Daggers Drawn - August 27th, 2008
• More Load Shedding - August 27th, 2008
• Whose Writ is This - August 26th, 2008
• So They Parted - August 26th, 2008
• New Alignments - August 24th, 2008
• Vindicated Operartion in Swat - August 24th, 2008
• Time to Splinter - August 23rd, 2008
• What Costed Musharraf - August 23rd, 2008