EDITORIAL: The ruling PTI leaders are insistent on prolonging an unnecessary quarrel they picked with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after it raised a number of objections to the government decision to introduce electronic voting machines (EVMs). Reacting to unfavourable opinion, the Minister for Railways Azam Swati accused the ECP of “taking bribes and always rigging polls”. If that was not provocative enough, he added, such institutions should be “set on fire.” Soon afterwards, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry addressed a presser where he, too, hurled insults at the ECP as well as the Chief Election Commissioner, calling the former “the opposition’s headquarters” and the latter “a mouthpiece of the opposition”. Such irresponsible, unsubstantiated allegations would be unacceptable in any situation – all the more so in this case as they could undermine public trust in an independent constitutional body.
No surprise then that the ECP issued show-cause notices to the two ministers for their “caustic remarks” and serious allegations, but to no avail. They were given 15 more days to submit their replies, yet there was no response. Last week, they were summoned once again to explain their “slanderous remarks” to be ignored yet again. Instead, the accusers have doubled down, telling the ECP to withdraw the notices. Considering the seriousness of the allegations, the ECP is unlikely to forget or forgive the matter. Nor is the government prepared to step back. In fact, at the PTI’s core committee meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Imran Khan directed other party leaders to stand up for the two ministers. As quoted by Fawad Chaudhry, he said they (he and Swati) spoke out for electoral reforms not in their own interest but on behalf of the whole government, and that it was unfortunate that no other party leader came out in their support. Indeed, the cabinet members have a collective responsibility for government policies. At least one of them, Shibli Faraz, did counter ECP’s objections to EVMs, and also forcefully defended the proposed electoral reforms bill. But in taking issue with the ECP the two ministers went too far, making it that much difficult for their colleagues to defend them. Their outbursts seem to be well thought-out attacks on the electoral body rather than spur-of-the moment reaction. The prime minister has also had consultation with the allies in his government and sought their support for use of EVMs in the next elections.
In any event, the ECP is responsible for organising and conducting elections. It could find fault with the EVMs, but not stop their use unless backed by legislation. The forum for that is Parliament. That is where the government needs to expend its energies rather than taking a collision course with the electoral body. The decision to keep the ball rolling out of the legislature can invite trouble in the form of contempt proceedings and, perhaps, also legal action under the Defamation Law. The ruling party, therefore, would be wise to try and let the matter pass as tactfully as possible.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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