The LG polls controversy

The controversy over alleged rigging/mismanagement in the KPK local government elections rages on. JUI-F has been threatening to stage a protest sit-in and hold an all-party conference to devise a joint action. ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan called a press conference on Wednesday to demand resignation of the KPK government and dismissal of the provincial assembly. He also demanded repeal of the province's Local Government Act terming the law as ambiguous. In his apparent zeal to settle scores with the province's ruling party Asfandyar Wali ignored the fact that at issue are the local government polls, not the provincial assembly elections. And that the KPK assembly passed LG law with all parties' unanimous support. If the ANP had any reservations on the subject it should have expressed the same when the bill came up for discussion and debate in the assembly.
Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak held his own press conference on Wednesday to reiterate that his government is ready for fresh local government elections if that is what the opposition parties want. It is up to the Election Commission of Pakistan, however, to decide whether or not to declare the entire election null and void to undertake the electoral exercise all over again, or to order re-polling in selected constituencies. The objectors need to keep this legal imperative in mind. The proper path for them to follow would be to direct all their complaints to the ECP. As for the party at the centre of the storm, as noted earlier, the PTI has been offering to address opposition complaints, saying it would have no objection if the opposition candidates seek redress from election tribunals for reelection in selected constituencies, or to go for fresh polls in the entire province. Imran Khan told journalists that he had already discussed the issue with KPK Chief Minister and that the provincial government has no objection to phased re-polling under Army supervision. It is sad, indeed, that the politicians should show themselves to be like squabbling little children needing the Army to act as the big brother and sort out issues between them.
The political class needs to be careful not to project the image of being an inept, inconsiderate and unthinking lot. The ANP president while demanding the resignation of the provincial government and dissolution of the assembly said "in the presence of the present ruling set-up in the province, re-elections are not acceptable even if they are conducted under the supervision of the Army." Even if for argument's sake he was to get his wish, the ANP president did not say who would replace the present set-up, and how? There will have to be a new election presided over by the same ECP which held the LG polls. The ANP and other opposition parties need to act with a greater sense of seriousness and responsibility than seems to be the case.