Lessons and fears post-NA-249
May 4, 2021
Recent by-elections in Karachi and Sialkot have exposed the administrative incompetence of the Imran Khan government. The ruling PTI has failed to hold a single constituency election without controversy, despite being in power for three years.
First of all, we had the Daska NA-75 by-election in Sialkot. This was mired in such extensive claims of vote-rigging that left the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was left with no choice but to call for fresh polls. Then, more recently, it was the turn of the NA-249 by-election in Karachi. Here, four parties – including those which finished the race in fourth and fifth place, respectively – claimed victory. This clearly underscores how our political parties have not developed the required maturity to accept defeat. Winning is the only thing that matters to them. It is most unfortunate that we have never seen any of our politicians accept and address their own failures.
Govt unveils 49-point electoral reforms
Fawad, Babar say reforms aimed at increasing trust of people, parties in election process
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhary Fawad Hussain and Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan shared details of the reforms agenda at a news conference in Islamabad. PHOTO: RADIO PAKISTAN
ISLAMABAD:
The federal government on Monday unveiled a series of amendments to the Constitution, laws and the Election Act 2017 as part of its electoral reform agenda in order to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in the future and end the controversy and allegations of rigging forever.
At a joint press conference with Prime Minister’s Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry once again invited the opposition for talks, saying that legislating reform was the responsibility of parliament and not the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The prime minister said that in the by-polls, despite a low turnout, all parties were crying foul and claiming rigging. He recalled a similar hue and cry following the NA-75 Daska by-election and the Senate elections.
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