EC must have financial autonomy

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is responsible for conducting, in a free and fair manner, the most important procedure of democratic politics: elections. Yet it is still struggling to free itself from government influence and dependence. The other day, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Hamid Ali Mirza presided over a meeting at the ECP Secretariat, where it was decided to demand financial independence enjoyed by other august institutions like the Supreme Court, National Assembly and Senate. In an effort to effectively unbind the ECP from the government, and consequently its ability to influence the functioning of this constitutional body, a summary is to be forwarded to the Prime Minister, asking for full financial autonomy. The significance of the move cannot be emphasised enough in view of the role the ECP is expected to play as an impartial referee between players big and small. It is not just the polling day that matters; the ECP has the authority to make many vital decisions before and after that day. Among other things, its work entails preparing/revising electoral rolls and delimitating constituencies before the elections; as per the 18th Amendment, it can also appoint election tribunals to adjudicate post-election disputes. Relying on government resources for these tasks is an open invitation to influence. It may be recalled that independence of the ECP had figured prominently in the Charter of Democracy that the PPP and the PML-N signed a while ago. Perhaps, the charter might have been abandoned yet a certain level of commitment to it lingered on. Hence the 18th Amendment included a provision under which the procedure for the appointment of the CEC and other members of the ECP was changed to ensure their impartiality. Instead of the government appointing them on its own, a parliamentary committee comprising members from both the Treasury and Opposition benches has been entrusted the responsibility to recommend names for the appointments. The issue of financial self-sufficiency, to be settled through the legal process, remains unsettled. Financial autonomy, it hardly needs saying, is the key to any individual or institution's independence. Unfortunately, the government has kept dragging its feet on this vital subject. Its critics may not be so wrong if they attribute motives. As long as there is room to manoeuvre, any government would be tempted to turn the situation to its advantage. However, today's opposition could be tomorrow's government and vice versa. Hence, instead of looking at small short-term gains, all concerned must endeavour to create an even-playing field. And for that a basic requisite is a truly independent election commission, its chief and members chosen by a representative parliamentary body, and enjoying full financial autonomy. Copyright Business Recorder, 2011