The so-called by-elections held on December 04, were no different from the ones held under the aegis of the previous Election Commission, in every respect, from ballot paper snatching to forcible occupation of polling booths by armed supporters of various candidates, intimidation of the voters to open display of lethal arms and subsequent illegal firing on the announcement of polling results, despite the announcement of stipulated rules by the newly-constituted Election Commission, under former Justice Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).
Fakhro Bhai, as lovingly called, the incumbent CEC, is an honest, prudent and an acknowledged outstanding jurist, no argument there. However, is the CEC, just as good, an effective, capable, no-nonsense and assertive manager to ensure strict, effective application, observance and implementation of the election rules? Will the CEC, himself, take the 'suo-motu' action against the delinquent candidates and the sundry culprits, who have flouted the election rules and code of conduct by ordering arrest of the goons who had indulged in intimidation of voters, display of lethal weapons and resorted to firing in air, or, like all his toothless predecessors, he too would succumb to expediency and follow the path of least resistance by condoning the wilful and blatant violation of election rules? The law demands that all such delinquent candidates be disqualified from contesting elections and their armed goons, punished, without exception, under the arms' act and election rules as serious cognisable offence.
Frankly speaking, the incumbent CEC seems to be no different from his predecessors. Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim, despite the hopes and hype his appointment had aroused among the average Pakistanis, to make the election commission an effective, transparent and non-partisan institution, sadly, has been a big disappointment. It has been almost a week since holding of the December 04 by-elections, and thus far, no action against the delinquent violators and brazen flouters of election rules and the applicable code of conduct.
As a common Pakistani, honestly speaking, I have no confidence and hope in the newly-constituted Election Commission under the incumbent CEC that the next elections would be fair, free and transparent, since the present Election Commission lacks the will, determination, effectiveness and capability to perform its assigned mandate and responsibility as an independent state organ. It all seems to be beyond Fakhro Bhai to run the affairs of Election Commission effectively under the applicable election rules and code of conduct. How sad and what a pity that the Election Commission continues to be an ineffective, expedient, trust, credibility deficit and moth-ridden institution!