Time is fast approaching when the people would be asked to elect their representatives for the National and Provincial Assemblies for the next five years. But are these polls going to he held sans any code of ethics to ensure people exercise their right of vote in a smooth and orderly manner in conducive atmosphere?
This question is quite pertinent under the prevailing circumstances. It is a known fact that the Election Commission of Pakistan, headed by a retired judge of the country's apex court, some day back had made public the draft of the Code of Ethics.
The Code of Ethics so announced was intended to invite proposals and suggestions from the political parties before the Do's and Don'ts list is finalised drawing the lines for contesting Political and religious parties and their candidates.
But in the first instance, it appears from the reports in the print media, the political and religious parties have not responded to the Election Commission in a positive sense, they have not conic forth with feasible proposals and suggestions for making the proposed Code of Ethics result-oriented.
In the second instance, the political and religious parties are just rejecting the proposed Code of Ethics in an outright manner without contributing their input to the draft so that their suggestion and proposals are incorporated before the Code of Ethics is finalised, approved and enforced.
Needless to say that the Code of Ethics is essentially required to ensure harmony, peace, law and order during the electioneering campaign. Proper enforcement of the Code of Ethics and strict adherence of its provisions by all is a pre-requisite for holding of the general election in a free, fair and transparent manner to which President General Pervez Musharraf stands committed.
If the political and religious parties just reject the draft then the Election Commission will he left with no option but to finalise the Code of Ethics on its own and enforce the same.