Rizwan Ghani
THE decision of re-election in NA-75 Daska by-polls due to controversies and clashes is a timely step.
Law should be upheld so that all concerned are brought to justice. There is no automatic immunity to public office holders, government servants and politicians. If the Election Commission manages to implement its powers, it can go a long way in bringing credibility to elections, democracy and accountability.
The state should help EC to discharge its duties without pressure, transparently and swiftly. In a rare exercise of executive powers, the Election Commissioner has ordered punitive steps.
On his orders, AC Daska, both DC and DPO Sialkot were suspended. Instructions have been issued for the removal of the concerned Commissioner and RPO Sialkot followed by the disciplinary action against them.
Chief Secretary and IG Police of Punjab have been summoned by EC for questioning. Orders have also been given to register criminal cases against the missing Returning Officers carrying three-year jail term.
On the other hand, government has announced that it will challenge the re-election decision of ECP in the Supreme Court.
The ruling party and its candidate will file the appeal against ECP’s decision which is their legal right.
However, the government may not follow through fearing it might backfire since the ECP in its detailed order has already concluded that the election in the subject constituency has not been conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in a transparent manner.
It will be difficult for the government to hide the facts which are now public knowledge.
The SC move could result in imprisonment of all those who were involved in it. As per the Panamagate judgment the immunity available to the PM or the member parliament was not absolute and that obedience of law and the Constitution was an inviolable duty of every citizen.
Justice Khosa observed that committing a crime but still claiming parliamentary privilege is not covered in the immunity available to government functionaries in the performance of their duties.
Two PMs have been sent home in Pakistan and a court ordered Johnson to write letter or go to jail.
Justice is need of the hour to end culture of impunity and bring accountability and transparency.
EC should give clear policy to bring an end to the use of weapons and violence in elections. State should become party in two death cases in Daska.
This is the only way to end use and show of force in elections permanently. Murder cases should also be registered against both the contestants because they were its direct beneficiaries.
It is clear from the footages in the media that it was part of their strategy to win elections by scaring, deterring and controlling voter turnout.
The N-75 Daska election in March should be the test of implementation of EC policies. The details of ROs disappearance should be made public.
It is widely believed that those at the highest level were personally directing the operation to win the election at all costs after humiliating defeat in many other by-elections.
Another defeat before the Senate election would have damaged the party narrative permanently which was unacceptable to them.
That’s why the opposition will do its best to pin the PM in this case because he is the ultimate architect of the disaster and its beneficiary if his party and candidate had won.
The ruling party will reject all such allegations including those of the Opposition as mere propaganda and cry foul but nothing can hide the fact that two innocent people lost their lives.
There are serious questions about the role of bureaucracy in this by-election. There are two sides of the story.
The media is showing that District Administration failed to perform their duties. The EC order also reflected similar failure but then there is other side of the story in which the politicians forced the state representatives to follow unlawful orders.
An ideal officer would have stood up to the bullying and upheld the law. But it is easier said than done knowing because it is common knowledge that such upright officers are made an example for others.
It is due to such practices the best brains have stopped coming to civil service.
Under the circumstances, the Chief Secretary should give his side of the story to the EC and make the details public also.
All other bureaucrats who have been suspended, reprimanded and or removed should do the same to separate wheat from the chaff.
It is right time to bring a permanent end to political interference in government officers’ work by the rogue politicians who violate laws, do corruption and then force them to cover it up for them just to save their jobs.
—The writer is senior political analyst based in Islamabad.