The Flawed Electoral System And Good Governance

Pakistan has  been  the  most unfortunate country, governed  by  non professional Feudals ,Capitalists and  less  educated  legislators  who mostly win the  Elections by  rigging  , feudal  influence ,power and strength ,  leaving little  space  for  the  poor  segments of  the  society  to exercise  their  right to  vote for  the  candidates  of  their   choice  . The  Practice  of  Exercising the  vote for the deserving  candidates  has  been  a tough task  for the  people  residing in rural  areas  who are  heavily influenced  by the  Feudal lords  .

These  feudal lords  have  complete control  over these  poor  souls and  force  them , mostly the  small farmers and peasants , to  vote  for the  candidates  he  had  promised  and incase  of  defiance  , get  ready for the serious  consequences. The Polling Stations  are controlled  by the  hired  goons of  these  Feudal contesting candidates  who not only  pressurize  the  polling staff  for the  support of their  candidate  but  even  cast fake  votes  on the  power  of  Guns  . The  poor  polling staff  receiving  life  threats  in the  station  compellingly  nods  to the  wishes  of  these  spoons  who are tasked  to get  support from polling  staff for  maximizing the  chances  of  Success  of their  contesting candidates  .

In  this  condition  ,  the  staff  administering the Polling  station  and  one or  two  Police  security personnel  could  not resist  to the  powerful candidates  who  enjoy the  greater support in the  higher ranks of  bureaucracy  . Such  systems  have produced  the  worthless  politicians  who  grease  their palms  when  they  are  in power  and  spend  the  public  funds  on their  personal  luxuries  forgetting those  who made  their  access  to Assemblies  possible by voting  in their  favor  .

In Pakistan  , the  Elections  are  either  held  before   the  completion of term  or  sometimes  marred  by the  Coup D’états as the  history  reflects  the  story  . Pakistan has been ruled more by the Marshal Law Administers than by the Elected Democratic forces. The Election in Pakistan is contested by various parties in the various provinces. Some  parties  such as  PML (N)  , Pakistan People’s  Party Parliamentarians  have  majority  at federal level  where as  the  some  parties  have  majority at  Provincial  level  . For instance, the  Parties  such as  ANP and  JUI-F  had  massive  majority in the  Khyber Pakhtunkhwa  in previous  term of  Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarian led  Government  but  after  May 11 2013  Elections  PTI  gained  thumping  popularity  by  winning  the  maximum  number of  seats  in the  General  Elections  and  has  become  the third  largest  party in terms of seats  in Pakistan after  PML(N) and PPPP.

The PTI has also impressive representation in National Assembly, Punjab Assembly and Sindh Assembly as well. Led  by Former  Cricketer  Imran Khan  , PTI  has evolved  into  a  well organized  Party  specially for youth  of  Pakistan  .  Until 2013, there were only two party rule  with majority. But  in may  11 Elections  last  year  , PTI  emerged as  victorious party  with simple  majority in KPK  to form the  Government  with Moderate religious Party  Jamaat Islami in the  Terrorist  hit and  Drone  engulfed  Province  . PPP has  always  won the most seats  in Sindh  followed  by  Urban influenced  MQM  and  PML-Functional  . In  Punjab , its  PML –N and  PML-Q  to appear  victorious but in  last elections  PML-N  was given the clean chit in Punjab to grab the maximum seats  . Though  the  PTI  protested  against the  rigging in   the  constituencies of  Lahore  and  carried  demonstrations  but  to no avail .

The  Baluchistan  always  gives  mix  response  where  no party gets  simple  majority  in the province  and forms  Government  with other coalition partners but the  PML-N Chief   Mian Nawaz  Shareef  gave the  chance to  nationalists of  BNP to form  the  government with  PML-N  and  other  parties  There are  several parties  registered with   Election Commission of Pakistan  but they are not deep rooted  as compared  to  ,main stream  parties  such as   PML –N , PPPP, MQM  , PTI , MNP , PML-F  , PkMAP  and  PML-Q  . Though  the  nationalists  in Baluchistan contest  the general Elections  but in Sindh It was very first time  that the national parties     such as SUP , STP and  QAT  contested Elections last year but could not win  any seat  even though  they had an alliance.

The  Last  year  Election were  a bit change  as  compared  to previous elections  as  voters  were  required  to place  their  thumb impressions and CNIC number  on the  ballot papers on the reserved  part of the Ballot paper which was  held for record purposes but  the other portion of  the  ballot  paper which was    given to the  voters , did not carry both the  thumb impression and CNIC number thus  making the whole  process questionable and deliberately the  possibility  of  rigging appeared  . The  PTI  even went on to say that the Whole Elections were  rigged  and demanded  re-elections  but  the  demand  was  put down  when they formed  their  Government  in KPK .

Moreover  , the fake Degree  holding  Legislators  were  first  disqualified  and  then permitted to  contest  elections  making  adverse  effect upon the  future  elections  taking the  fake  degree  issue  into consideration . If  you are  allowing those  who  made  false  statement of their  qualifications and  submitted  bogus  degrees  to Election Commission  ,then  how  could  you expect a  Good  governance  from the  candidates  . Everybody  will  raise  fingers  upon them as they  cannot be  sincere  to the  nation whose  precious  votes  were  hijacked  by the  candidate  holding fake degree  .

The  Fake  Degree  holders  should  have been  given the  exemplary  punishment and  a  life time ban  on their  candidature  for  Provincial  , National and  Senate seats .Our neighboring country  India  has  introduced  e-voting  system  for making the  Election  free  , fair and  transparent  then why can’t we adopt and  introduce  such system  to discourage the  possibilities of  the  rigging and  over influence  . The world has been benefiting from the  technology  but  we are  not  availing the  services of  reputed  Technology giants  to mock test  the e-voting system . Though  mock testing  was  done  in KPK for  local Government Elections  which produced  positive results  .

As Election Commission of Pakistan is  going to hold  Local Bodies Election this  year   in Sindh  , Punjab and  KPK , why not  give  a  try to the  e-voting  to  ensure  maximum  transparency and further  the reputation of  apex  election Body which is  tasked  to hold  Local as  well  as  General    Elections . The  Election  Commission should  mock test  e-voting system  in all the  provinces  and  seek feedback from the  voters  about the  system and  arrange  televised  sessions  for  voter education and introduction of  the  e-voting system which will probably  minimize  the  chances of  bogus voting  and  rigging in the Elections . At the  same  time  the  ballot papers  should carry CNIC , Thumb  impression box  on both  parts  such as  the portion which is reserved for  record and  the portion for casting vote after  stamping  the election sign of the  candidate of  voters’ choice  .

Unless  the whole  Election system  is  completely revamped and improved  , the inefficient  candidates  will keep  on making their way to the assembly  whose  credibility  would  always be  questioned since  systematic  flaws  directly affect the  Governance  system due  non professional and less  educated  candidates  who will  miserably fail  to undertake  the tasks of  Policy making , Legislation and  ensuring good governance . These  people  will be at  mercy of  the  Secretarial  Staff  to guide them  in their  operational and  legislative duties .The Election  commission  may  also contact  the  polling staff  from  NGO’s and  Public  as  in service  Staff is influenced  by the  candidates  easily  . This will greatly help minimize  the  rigging chances  and  encourage the  Good Governance System after success  of  deserving  candidates and  at the same  time  will make whole electoral  system  transparent and fair .