LB polls: the first phase

With the first phase of the local bodies elections in Sindh and Punjab set to be held on October 31, the final preparations for the polls have begun. And there are already new hurdles. The issue of security concerns over the first phase of the polls being held in Muharram has been brought once again after the inspectors general of Punjab and Sindh told the Election Commission of Pakistan on Monday of their fears that the elections could be targeted by terrorists. In this matter, the police and law-enforcement agencies should make available any relevant evidence over specific threats and then take required action. What is much more worrying is that the ECP was told that thousands of members of banned outfits would be able to contest the local bodies elections using different organisational affiliations. The chief election commissioner is said to have told the IGs that it was their duty to trace such personnel and report them to the ECP. This is correct as information with respect to the organisational affiliations of candidates can only be available with the police and other security agencies.
In a time when the National Action Plan is looking to eliminate members of banned outfits, it would be a shame if thousands of them are able to stand for election and seek a mandate for their anti-state activities from the people. This means that security agencies will have to work closely with Returning Officers to ensure that proper scrutiny is done and the elections go through smoothly. Already, the polls have been phased out to give law-enforcement agencies sufficient time for preparation. A further problem is that the delimitation of constituencies has not been completed in Sindh and Islamabad. Moreover, the ECP’s orders of placing a blanket ban on transfers and postings in the three regions have not been taken well by the chief secretaries of Punjab and Sindh, who have claimed that some of the personnel changes had nothing to do with the electoral process, and that the ban would bring some government operations to a standstill. The transfers and postings ban by the ECP is an important one to ensure the transparency of the election, especially after the fracas that followed the 2013 elections. Often losing parties point to changes in bureaucracies as the sole reason for their defeat. Plus, it does not make sense why government activities should come to a standstill if some staff is not shifted to other departments. The ECP, however, has promised to look into the matter; which could create problems going into the future. The government has also been asked not to announce or advertise any new development scheme so as not to colour the voting preferences of the people. These are much more cosmetic proposals which are unlikely to have much impact – coming so late in the election process. What is important is that the ECP and security agencies work together to ensure there is no further delay in the elections.