Free and fair polls will help save the republic … Ishtiaq Ali Mehkri

Elections are a must in a democracy, and it is not a choice. It is mandatory in any constitutional decorum to uphold the rule of law, and ensure transparent and a credible ballot. In doing so, the organs of the state must be above partisanship, and adhere to the code of conduct as ordained by the Constitution and law. In doing so, the onus is always on the political parties to rise up to the occasion and uphold a system based on fairness, and not one that is tailor-made. Societies where political engineering is exercised — like many in the Third World, including us — to choreograph desired outcomes are sooner than later found in the abyss of decay.

The February 8 general elections in Pakistan, to this day, have not been able to strike the right chords. Electioneering is at its lowest ebb, and there is no enthusiasm. A smokescreen of suspicion, fear and mistrust prevails. The Election Commission, for more than a year, has proved beyond doubt its partiality with the ‘chosen few’ and had arm-twisted ground realities at the cost of undermining its original mandate as enshrined in the Constitution.

The electoral watchdog has not only failed in holding timely elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, despite concurrent orders from the Supreme Court, but had also lingered on in delaying general elections within the 90-day timeframe. Likewise, the prolonging of caretaker (read chair-taker) governments’ tenures at the federation and provinces, in contravention of the Constitution has substantiated the concerns that all is not well in the republic!

In the same premise, the extraordinary ruling of the apex court to deny a political party its legitimate and constitutionally sanctioned right of election symbol has left a bad taste. It has led to worries that there is something fishy and the ballot, if held, seems to be a compromised affair.

The denial of the right to campaign for PTI and forcing it to field its nominees as Independent candidates is a first of its kind experiment in our pseudo-representative culture. The policy in vogue will surely prove to be detrimental in the long run, as far as national interests are concerned. It goes without saying that we have not learnt from our chequered history in the wake of the truncation of Pakistan in 1971.

The ‘political’ unrest brewing in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan has its roots in denial of their right to be heard. So is the case with Gilgit-Baltistan whose sovereigns have not been honoured with commitments that the State of Pakistan made with them. So is the disgust in Punjab and Sindh. They all long for their rightful share in Jinnah’s Pakistan, and expect nothing more than fair play and a just distribution of resources, per se.

Pakistan to this day has not been able to hold free and fair elections. All ballots were engineered either before the vote, or later. Similarly, all the elected prime ministers were dismissed and were unable to complete their respective lawful tenures. They were tried, victimised, disqualified and even executed. But many shady characters from other breeds went scot-free. Thus, the axe falling on them since 1956 by shunting them out as ‘pariahs’ and ‘traitors’ has bred widespread discontentment. It has failed the republic, and the people are wondering as to who are the real patriots.

This ensuing civil-military rift has led to weakening of national institutions, and furthering the gap in a self-construed troika of the people, the politicians and the military leadership. This dilemma can only be fixed by reposing trust in the verdict of the masses, and holding high their fundamental right to make a political choice. Its negation has harmed democracy, and is now hurting the State.

All that is needed is an environment free from indoctrination. Let the people make a choice in all sincerity at their free will. Heavens will not fall if they misjudge or flunk. Rather, it will strengthen the system of electability and usher in confidence in the State of Pakistan. A free vote on February 8 can cure all of our ills, and help save the republic.

Courtesy  The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2024.