Reforming elections

With talks of election reform and the need to initiate these as a key talking point, the Fair and Free
Election Network, which brings together 42 civil society organisations concerned with the process of
election in the country, has put forward its preliminary recommendations to remove flaws and make
vote casting a more fool-proof process. Fafen has had discussions with political parties before making its
broad-ranging suggestions public. It has based these on its observations of elections held since 2007 and
come up with a comprehensive set of reforms that suggest an overhaul in various areas. As other
organisations have done before, Fafen recommends that linkages between the Election Commission of
Pakistan and the executive be snapped, that the chief election commissioner and other members be
posted strictly on the basis of professional merit and that the post of CEC be limited to a three-year
term. Given controversies arising in the past over the CECs appointment, all this is logical. The rest of
the plan also unfolds methodically, advising that at least eight electoral laws which in some cases
contradict each other be merged, that the ECP be placed solely in charge of independently conducting
polls and judicial officers not be involved as this creates a potential conflict of interest when appeals are
heard by tribunals. The divergent size of constituencies, leading to discrepancies in NA seat allocation
between provinces has also been criticised, as has the failure to conduct a census, leading to difficulties
in delimitation.

To make electoral reform a continuous process, Fafen has advised the setting up of a joint parliamentary
committee and somewhat unexpectedly, also on Monday, the PML-Ns Ahsan Iqbal told the NA that
the PML-N government was ready to set up an All-Parties Committee on Electoral Reform. This is
something to be welcomed, given the urgent need for a system of election that can bypass the hurdles
that currently hamper polling. All these developments should come as good news to Imran Khan, and
perhaps help calm his fury to some degree. We hope he has also noted comments made recently by
Fafen that, realistically speaking, the media cannot rig polls. What is clear is that there are many in the
country seeking a fair poll process. The PTI chief is not fighting a lone battle as some kind of comic book
super hero. Fafens proposals are clearly well-thought-out, and the ten areas they cover would bring
about substantial change. The governments offer is also one that suggests it is willing to move ahead
with re-examining the pillar of our democratic system. A committee on this comprising all parties would
represent a firm step forward, going beyond mere allegations and vague accusations. Any such
committee would of course do well to first analyse Fafens comprehensive report.