(Published on May 17, 2011 Dawn)
SINCE its birth in 1956 the Election Commission of Pakistan has faced countless evolutionary problems. Indeed, its very formation within nine years of independence under immature democracy of Iskandar Mirza is regarded as a landmark.

Though this commission has functioned more independently than many of its counterpart autonomous bodies, working under the federal government, it has not remained an exception in the context of succumbing to political and dictatorial influence.

The ECP enjoys complete independence in its functions. However, there is an unavoidable need of reforms in its official hierarchy, financial matters, recruitment system, scope of functions, delegation of powers and, above all, use of electronic equipment.

Under the 18th Amendment, the chief election commissioner must be a sitting or retired judge of the Supreme Court.

The current hierarchical organisation after the 18th Amendment negatively impacts efficiency of the ECP personnel since no official can ever achieve the rank of chief election commissioner.

Thus the perception of ‘no-growth-whatsoever’ is enough to introduce gross organisational lethargy for the officials know they cannot grow in their career up to the highest rung of hierarchic ladder.

The qualified ECP personnel, with more than 30 years of progressive experience of conducting different elections and enjoying 21 or 22 grade, should be given a chance to become the chief election commissioner. The culture of professional and
personal growth should be introduced in the ECP at all levels to create enthusiasm and efficiency, thereby paving the way for fair and just election process.

The ECP recruits its officials by itself under Article 221 Officers and Servants Rules, 1989. The commission needs to admit that there are high chances of forgery since the commission neither has any entity specialised in selecting and hiring personnel nor any expertise in this delicate process.

On the other hand, we have reliable and expert autonomous bodies such as the FPSC which can recruit talented and deserving youth for the ECP. Another important reform that needs to be introduced is distribution of functions of the ECP up to the ‘tehsil’ level.

The ECP has only one office in a district and, hence, people belonging to far-flung rural areas have to suffer the difficulties of reaching district headquarters for getting their votes registered, verified or collecting vote certificates from the only office present in district headquarters.

If the district office has as many branches in a district as the number of tehsils, the burden on weak shoulders of crestfallen rural folks will be reduced.

The local bodies’ election is a lengthy and tiresome process since it requires three phases for its completion. The ECP should make it easier and simpler by introducing direct vote system for elections of nazims whereas election of union council nazims and tehsil nazims can be shrunk into one phase for good will of saving men, material and money of the nation.

In order to avoid vote rigging, the ECP should acquire scientific and technological help. Computers, along with scanners, ought to be introduced with the Intranet system present in all election offices in the country. Vote registration and voting must be internally linked with Nadra throughout Pakistan which may find out fake voters and reduce the chances of forgery and misconduct during elections.

The only way to prove the real strength of this constitutional body lies in sending fake degree-holder politicians behind bars and setting an example for generations to come.

When such sort of concrete steps are taken, there appears a ray of hope for a strong democracy in our motherland.

SAHITO ZAHEER
Khairpur