DESPITE reservations being expressed by different political parties, the electoral process is moving ahead as thousands of candidates including those representing various parties have submitted their nomination papers showing greater enthusiasm for general elections. There was heightened activity throughout the country on Sunday as it was the last date for submission of nomination papers and political parties also submitted their priority list for the reserved seats.
The keenness shown by the candidates and political parties augurs well for the democratic process, which remains fragile even after 76 long years of independence. The election is also an opportunity for people of Pakistan to demonstrate their wisdom by making right choices while exercising their right to vote as the outcome would affect not only their lives but also the fate of the country, which could not pursue the goals of progress and prosperity due to recurring political instability and disruption in policies. Now the crucial second phase of the electoral process – scrutiny of nomination papers begins and this could see many upsets as the candidature of the rivals is going to be challenged, may be including those of Imran Khan, Nawaz Sharif and Jahangir Khan Tareen. Apart from the candidates, who are underground and will have to appear before the respective Returning Officers by Saturday, there is a big question mark for all those who want to contest the polls as candidates of the PTI as the party stands unregistered with the Election Commission of Pakistan, its candidates cannot get unified symbol of ‘bat’ due to the issues surrounding intra-party elections, which have been declared null and void by the Commission. The electoral body Sunday released an updated roster of 175 officially registered political parties representing a diverse spectrum in the political arena that no longer includes the name of PTI founder Imran Khan as the head of the party, marking PTI as a leaderless political entity. Presently, the PTI is also in a disadvantageous position as it is not eligible to submit its own priority list of candidates against the reserved seats. A reversal of the setbacks to the party is possible only if its viewpoint withstands judicial scrutiny during hearing of the would-be petitions by the party. As for the lists of women candidates against reserved seats submitted by other parties, regrettably merit is hardly visible in the selections that have mostly been made on the basis of kinship and influence, ignoring more eligible and loyal workers, a culture that needs to be changed.
