Islamabad, 11 Oct 2023:The Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) hosted a consultative session in Islamabad, spotlighting the pivotal subject of ‘Ensuring Free and Fair General Elections’ in Pakistan. The conversation, rich with the insights from legal scholars, politicians, civil society members, media, and academia, encompassed comprehensive discussions on the hurdles and potential strategies related to democratic elections in the nation.
The discourse was sparked by an exposition of the fundamental democratic principles, embodied in various articles of the Constitution of Pakistan, by Mr. Shahid Hamid, Former Governor and Federal Minister. Other speakers, including Former Senator Farhatullah Babar, Mr. Ishaq Khan Khaqkwani, and Mr. Rasheed Chaudhry, elaborated on aspects like the need for an independent investigation into past electoral incidents, potential for political engineering, and insights into delimitation and the urgency of electoral reforms.
Distinct viewpoints emerged during the session regarding electoral and political reforms, emphasizing concerns such as the need for mandatory voting, introducing a ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) option, inclusivity of minorities, the influence of social media on election results, and the pertinence of a clear separation of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) powers from judicial authority. Speakers acknowledged issues relating to the role of the military establishment in the electoral sphere, the pertinence of caretaker governments, and the role of the higher judiciary in electoral processes.
In particular, Mr. Bilal Gilani, Executive Director of Gallup Pakistan, noted the prevailing skepticism amongst the majority of the population concerning the fairness of the forthcoming election. In addition, the Executive Director highlighted inflation as a growing issue, affecting 50% of the population and challenging their faith in democracy.
Furthermore, voices like that of Hafiz Tahir Khalil, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, and Mr. Mujib-ur-Rehman Shami emphasized aspects like the surrendering of parliamentary powers, the urgency of holding elections without delays, and the persistent challenge against the legitimacy of election results. They also highlighted the importance of a collective effort from political parties in shaping a forum for effective communication and coordinated actions, recognized as crucial in safeguarding free and fair elections.
PILDAT has expressed its dedication towards nurturing discussions and enabling informed dialogue pertinent to the vital issue of electoral transparency and safeguarding democratic principles in Pakistan. The forum concluded with a collective commitment to ongoing advocacy for electoral transparency and the defense of democratic norms in Pakistan.