Eminent jurists, politicians, writers and analysts have described the 2018 general election as the most crucial in the history of Pakistan, therefore every effort should be made to make it credible, reliable and acceptable by all stakeholders. They stated this while addressing a seminar on "Imperatives for Credible Electoral Process" organized by PINA in collaboration with Punjab University Center for South Asian Studies & Pakistan Studies Center.
Former Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokhar presided over the seminar, while former federal minister S M Zafar was the chief guest on the occasion. Others who spoke at the seminar included PILDAT's president Ahmad Bilal Mahboob, Dr Prof Ambareen Javed, Prof Dr Shafiq Jalandhary, Sajjad Mir, Dr Aman Ullah Malik, Dr Hussain Ahmad Piracha, Qayyum Nizami, Ehsan Wyne, Muhammad Mehdi, Advocate Zaheer Ahmad Mir and Prof Dr Saad Siddiqi.
Former Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokhar in his address said that 2018 election have great significance in our national life. I see the present arrangements for elections far better than previous experiences. He said 1970 witnessed rigging of unprecedented dimensions when the Awami League occupied polling stations forcibly.
Veteran politician and jurist S M Zafar said that conduct of election on time will be reckoned as victory for democracy and defeat of dictatorial mentality. He suggested the ECP to arrange All Parties Conference to prepare a code of conduct with mutual consensus. He said that high court has put off the hearing of Ahsan Iqbal's case after election.
The same policy should be adopted by NAB and other institutions. PINA Secretary General Altaf Hasan Qureshi said that we should put up suggestions to make the electoral process more reliable and credible, so that sustainability of democracy continues, and the impression of the people's rule is engraved deeper.
Ahmad Bilal Mahboob, President PILDAT, reviewing past 10 general elections, said that 2018 election has the potential of turning into the most credible ever exercise. Political Analyst Qayyum Nizami said that it would be more worthwhile to make reliable electoral system rather than electoral process.
Brigadier Riaz Ahmad Toor (retd) said it may lead to complications if army personnel are put inside the polling station. Muhammad Mehdi urged that transparent elections are sine qua non for our life and stability.
Our elections are under the focus of the world. Advocate Zaheer Ahmad Mir said that it was the primary responsibility of the ECP to arrange training of correct manner of exercising the right of vote. This training can be extended to all voters through the modern technology. Prof Dr Saad Siddiqi said that the exercise of voting right in a responsible manner is a national as well as religious obligation.
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