Salahuddin Haider
YES that is exactly what is happening in Pakistan also. But why blame our beloved country alone. Such unhealthy trends have been witnessed twice in this century, which is sill in infancy, just being 20 years old.
In America, calling itself the biggest champion of human rights, and if loot and plunder is read with it, democracy’s image stood soiled already.
Necessary therefore is to know at least a little bit about definition of elections, what do these mean, how do these serve the society and raise its image worldwide. Their definitions have been described in many ways.
1) An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office.]
2) Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated since the 17th century. 3), Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the executive and judiciary, and for regional and local government.
This process is also used in many other private and business organizations, from clubs to voluntary associations and corporations.
However, the universal use of elections as a tool for selecting representatives in modern representative democracies is in contrast with the practice in the democratic archetype, ancient Athens, where the Elections were not used were considered an oligarchic institution and most political offices were filled using sortition, also known as allotment, by which officeholders were chosen by lot.
And for the guide of students of politics, the definition of Electoral reform are also to be understood clearly. It is considered the process of introducing fair electoral systems where they are not in place, or improving the fairness or effectiveness of existing systems.
Psychology is the study of results and other statistics relating to elections (especially with a view to predicting future results). Election is the fact of electing, or being elected.
To elect means “to select or make a decision”, and so sometimes other forms of ballot such as referendums are referred to as elections, especially in the United States. Electoral reform is change in electoral systems to improve how public desires are expressed in election results. That can include reforms of: … Scrutineering (election monitoring by candidates, political parties, etc.) Safety of voters and election workers. Measures against bribery, coercion, and conflicts of interest.
Unfortunately, elections have always given birth to controversies, the latest being the heat which has now been generated after last week’s by-elections for two national and two provincial assembly constituencies.
Despite its chequered history, marred by repeated martial laws, the country was proud to have passed comprehensive constitutions, in 1956 and then in 1973.
The fairest of elections Pakistan’s history was conducted by an army chief, General Mohammad Yahya Khan in 1970 and later by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto after the 191 tragedy.
Since then, the legitimacy of almost every other election has been questioned, strengthening belief that politicians, instead of offering themselves as servants of the people, indulge in serving their own or family’s interest, which indeed is regrettable.
For the last few day, the people looked shocked and aghast by the nature of vilification campaign by losers against winners.
Mannerism means honoring the elections results, which translated in simpler terms, does imply that losers should accept results with grace and dignity, and congratulate the winners. That healthy trend is now thing of the past.
The accusations and allegations now being leveled by PML (N), the PPP or collectively by Pakistan Democratic Alliance against PTI of Imran Khan, and the equally angry and annoying rebuttal from prime minister, his cabinet colleagues, aides etc, is deplorable.
In America, elections results were first challenged by George Bush in 2000 against Al-gore, and now by Donald Trump against Democrat Party rival Joe Biden, who is now the 46th President of United States of America.
This unhealthy trend have been seen in world’s largest democracy, India at numerous occasions.
Time has therefore come for political parties to review their behavior, be more civilized and follow the norms of decency instead of bringing bad name for themselves and for politics after almost every time parliamentary polls are held.
It is not serving the country; neither is it giving inspirational message to coming generations.
