Neutral interim setup requires for free and fair elections

A couple of institutions are required to ensure non-controversial elections where democratic traditions are just striking roots including an independent election commission and an impartial caretaker setup after the assemblies have been dissolved.

The 18^th amendment brought into existence the first while the politically unbiased administrative machinery envisaged under the 20^th amendment has yet to be put in place.

The framework laid out by the 20^th amendment seeks the appointment of a caretaker prime minister and chief ministers in consultation with the opposition leader in the assembly.

If the premier and chief ministers and opposition leader fail to nominate one with consensus, the matter is to be referred to a parliamentary committee with equal members from the treasury and opposition.

In case of failure on the part of the committee to reach an agreement the matter would be decided by the Election Commission.

In a cavalier like attitude the leader of the opposition has maintained that there is no need for talks between the government and the PML-N. What is required, according to him, is to wait for the constitutional process to start.

In case the two sides fail to overcome the differences, let the matter be decided by the Election Commission.

It is the duty of both the government and the opposition to ensure that a situation like that does not arise. A reference to the unelected body would indicate that the politicians had failed to fulfill their duty.

To avoid the unhappy situation the political parties need to start negotiations at the earliest. Both PPP and PML-N have stressed the need to consult the mainstream parties outside the parliament also.

Despite the fact that it is not binding under the constitution, it might be useful to undertake the exercise. What is of utmost importance, however, is the initiation of a serious dialogue between the PPP and the PML-N.

Another thing that needs to be decided is that the role of the interim government would be confined only to overseeing the elections and looking after the day to day running of the official machinery for three months.

He is not supposed to take policy decisions nor write the letter to Swiss authorities.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Oct 28 2012. Filed under Opinion, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.