A detailed research document entitled "Conducting Elections for Public Representatives" launched here on Thursday highlighted challenges of conducting free and transparent elections and the need for an independent election commission. The recently published document, written by Gulmina Bilal, has been divided into three sections.
The first section "A quick history" deals with the political environment of Pakistan from the time when the first martial law was imposed to the present situation. The rationale for the inclusion of this section is that is given a historical and political picture of challenges before the election management set up in the country could be better understood and appreciated.
The second part of the document entitled "ground realities: present set up of election commission and political challenges" focused on the description of the present set up of the election commission, its structure, powers, limitations and duties in the context of the political and social challenges.
This part also categorises the various challenges before the ECP in conducting a free and fair election, and highlights the fact that political parties, media and citizens also have a due role in the process.
The third and last part of the paper entitled "Global experience of election commissions" shares with the readers the global experience of election commissions and managerial principles, but leaving it to the readers to identify aspects which could be relevant for Pakistan to adopt to meet the challenge of establishing an independent and fair election commission. It rounded off with some broad suggestion, which may provide a basis for more specific discussions at appropriate forums.
The document highlighted the challenges of conducting a free and transparent election and shared the global experience of different models of election commissions.
She suggested in her document that if political parties can be termed as the vehicles for being the public voice, elections can be understood as the process through which this voice is heard and respected. The writer also mentioned that in order to highlight the challenges of conducting a fair election, it is imperative that the present system of preparing, organising and conducting elections is examined in view of the political, social, economic and the administrative realities of Pakistan.
The writer also suggested that the chief election commissioner should be appointed through a consultation process involving all main political parties and relevant organs of the state.
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