ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s dysfunctional electoral system has hampered democratic development, political stability and the rule of law; major electoral reforms would bolster a still fragile democratic transition, says a report of the International Crisis Group.
Reforming Pakistan’s Electoral System War report, examines the electoral system having a troubled history of widespread rigging and fraud, facilitated by the civil-military bureaucracy, and identifies measures to make electoral institutions independent, impartial and effective. The report says the leadership on both sides of the political divide should realise that flawed elections undermine civilian governments and political parties more than anyone else.
Failure to ensure that the next transfer of power takes place through free, fair, transparent and democratic elections will embolden extremist groups, as well as provide the military with an opportunity to undermine if not oust the civilian leadership, as it did after the 1977 polls.
“Rigged elections have yielded unrepresentative parliaments that rubber-stamped extensive constitutional and political reforms to centralise power with the military and to empower its civilian allies, including Islamist parties”, says South Asia Project Director Samina Ahmed.
The government led by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and its parliamentary opposition cannot afford to postpone implementing major electoral reforms to ensure a credible, peaceful political transition after the general elections, due in 2013, she added.
The report says the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which already lacked independence, impartiality and competence, was further crippled under General Pervez Musharraf’s eight-year rule. The government-appointed chief election commissioners overlooked blatant electoral fraud at the local and national levels.
The voters lists were highly inaccurate, disenfranchising millions; polling procedures were routinely manipulated; and accountability mechanisms for election officials, candidates and political parties ineffective. Corrupt and dysfunctional election tribunals proved incapable of resolving disputes.
The current parliament has repealed the constitutional distortions introduced by the previous military regime, and reinforced parliamentary democracy with new provisions, such as strengthening the ECP. It must urgently follow through and build on these reforms.
It should grant the ECP complete financial autonomy and ensure that all federal and provincial executive authorities assist it in enforcing the electoral code of conduct as required by law. The report has urged the international community to support the ECP, and engage the parliament and political parties in their reform efforts.
