Moving towards reform

The judgement delivered by the Judicial Commission a few days ago on the 2013 elections has had a generally positive impact. In the first place, for many it has cleared doubts about the overall fairness of the polls and the allegations of rigging made. At the same time it has also ignited a welcome interest in reforming the system to ensure that the problems that arose during the polls, at various levels, are not repeated in the future. In Islamabad Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has said that the subcommittee on electoral reforms had agreed on some 13 proposals which it hoped would improve the electoral system and the working of the ECP, a body that was criticised by the JC for flaws in the balloting process. The proposals made continue to be discussed but include suggestions that the Chief Election Commissioner be selected from a broader choice of persons including former Grade 22 bureaucrats. The key electoral laws including those pertaining to political parties, the allocation of symbols and other matters are also being reviewed.
The debate will continue for some time, with some also suggesting that direct elections be held to Senate and for women’s seats. The finance minister has said that the process of working towards reforms will continue. We hope that the final agreement put forward by the committee is one that can properly amend the loopholes in the system. The issues regarding the ECP’s control over polling officials, maintenance of discipline over their working and related matters have already been taken up. What is also welcome is that the ECP itself seems more determined than before to examine its working and take measures to improve this. According to a report in this newspaper, the ECP is planning to improve the current result management system and will be abandoning the one set up for it by the UNDP. Instead it will develop its own system and also improve the manner in which electoral data is stored. Precisely what comes of these measures is to be seen. But what is welcome is that the faults that exist and that were identified by the JC in its detailed report are being examined by the relevant body. We hope that eventually this process can result in an electoral system freed from the administrative problems that have cropped up specifically and raised suspicions time and time again.