Blinded by vested interests
It just so happens that politics is an interesting profession. Nothing is set in stone; say something today and it might come back right at you and haunt you after some time. Everyone has skeletons in their cupboards, especially the politicians but what they don’t expect is that no one will find them, and even if someone does, being members of the same group they won’t take the lid off a sure recipe for disaster. However, every now and then along comes an unexpected turn to this smooth sailing of theirs, and turns the tables on them.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to implement articles 62 and 63 of the constitution in letter and spirit, causing quite a few ripples in the political circles. Ch Nisar Ali of PML-N, who earlier was a staunch supporter of a strong and independent ECP, seems to be the noisiest of them all now, after the commission has sent notifications to parliamentarians asking them to provide verified degrees of their educational qualifications. Musharraf’s rule of having a bachelor’s degree might not be a law anymore, but having fake degrees is outright fraud and still an offense under Pakistani laws. But that’s not the only thing the ECP is gunning for; it is also going after loan defaulters and tax evaders in the legislatures. And by the looks of it, it seems, the ECP has poked right where it hurts the most.
As reported, considering it turns out to be true which is highly likely, the PPP and PML-N have joined forces to fend off what they perceive as an attack on their privileges. If that indeed is the case, both parties are seriously undermining the democratic spirit prevailing in the country. This coming from the parties that withstood every onslaught on democracy in the last five years is not acceptable at all. There possibly is no test for being sadiq and amin and one can even challenge the insertion of these requirements in the constitution as both PPP and PML-N should have done when they embarked on decorating the constitution with amendment after amendment. However, the ECP has only asked for a proof that the parliamentarians are not cheating the public, or stealing from them or busy in fraudulent activity. These requirements, mind you, would stand the test of any ethical, moral or legal authority. PPP, PML-N and others might have just realised that what goes around, comes around, after all.
The country, though, cannot withstand any more political machinations. Democratic process needs strengthening, not attempts at undercutting it with tactics besmirched with vested personal interests. Transparency in electoral process is one giant step in helping democracy take roots. It something that has to be done; it would benefit all if it is done sooner rather than later.