Dawn Editorial 27 February 2021

Minister’s non-appearance

FEDERAL Water Resources Minister Faisal Vawda’s continued absence from the Election Commission’s hearing on the issue of his dual nationality speaks volumes for his views on due process. The minister has paid a Rs50,000 fine and even tendered an apology to the ECP for not attending proceedings, yet continues to skip hearings and prefers to send his lawyer instead. The entire saga has seen considerable foot-dragging by the minister, who most recently said he missed the hearing due to his mother’s poor health. Even if this a genuine reason, his multiple past absences and the ECP’s strong displeasure over his repeated postponements paint the picture of a lawmaker hoping to somehow evade legal proceedings. Not only has Mr Vawda avoided appearing before the ECP himself, a switch in lawyers mid-case has prompted criticism about delaying tactics. The case itself is fairly straightforward: if candidates for parliament do not renounce their second citizenship and the application is not approved by the other country at the cut-off date for filing nomination papers, they do not qualify for contesting elections. Last year, a report surfaced which suggested that Mr Vawda may have been in possession of a US passport at the time he filed his nomination papers in June 2018. It is therefore a matter of Mr Vawda and his lawyers appearing before the authority and presenting their defence with evidence to avoid disqualification.
The fact that the minister is being fined for repeated adjournments and still avoiding the ECP does not speak well of his respect for the election body. It is remarkable that a member of parliament, and that too one who is a sitting federal minister, has decided to adopt such a haughty approach to proceedings. Even if one were to put aside the merits of the case, Mr Vawda’s persistent disregard for due process in itself is appalling. The minister should know that both as a matter of principle and optics, his approach to this matter is unbecoming of an elected representative.

 

 

LoC ceasefire

THE Pakistan-India relationship is known for its complexity and bitterness, but there are times when surprises of a more positive kind are sprung. The recent decision by both militaries to honour the 2003 ceasefire along the LoC certainly qualifies as a pleasant surprise, considering the acrimony that has marked relations of recent.
In a joint statement released after hotline contact between the respective directors general military operations, “both sides agreed for strict observance of all agreements … along the LoC and all other sectors”. Considering that two years ago on this date both nuclear-armed rivals were at the brink of war, this is a welcome development. Moreover, too many innocent lives have been lost in cross-border shelling and ceasefire violations last year.
The move has not gone unnoticed, with the US State Department spokesman welcoming the move and encouraging continued “efforts to improve communication between the two sides”. Washington has also urged Islamabad and New Delhi to hold direct parleys on Kashmir.
It is difficult to say in concrete terms whether this development is the result of bilateral backchannel contacts between Pakistan and India, or if the new US administration has ‘nudged’ both actors to try and resolve their differences. Regardless of the impetus, the fact that both sides are talking instead of facing off at the border heralds a welcome change in the region, especially if the bellicosity that was emerging from New Delhi not too long ago is remembered.
And while the statement covers purely military matters along the LoC, buried within it are the seeds of normalisation, should both sides — particularly India — wish to pursue deconfliction. The “DGMOs agreed to address each other’s core issues/concerns which have propensity to disturb peace and lead to violence”, the statement says. Of course, from Pakistan’s perspective Kashmir is the core issue, and it is hoped that this and other irritants to peace are eventually addressed in a frank and progressive manner by both sides.
However, no one should be under the illusion that the bitterness afflicting bilateral ties will magically disappear on the basis of one statement. Peace-building is a long and arduous process, and when the relationship is as complex as that of Pakistan and India, things will take time to fall into place. As for external players, if the US is serious about peace in South Asia, it should clearly let New Delhi know that dialogue with Pakistan needs to be continued.
In the short term, the development bodes well for the people living along the LoC, who have paid with their lives due to Indian aggression. In the longer view, if New Delhi genuinely wants peace with Pakistan, it should make efforts towards restarting the dialogue process. Confidence-building measures will be more effective once political temperatures cool and India reviews its disastrous policy in held Kashmir.

 

 

Null and void

HAD people not lost their lives, the ham-fisted attempt at rigging the Daska by-election on Feb 19 could have been described as a parody. In fact, what transpired that day was a shocking display of the extent to which local and provincial administrations were willing to go to corrupt the process. It is therefore fitting that the Election Commission of Pakistan has declared the by-election null and void. In its detailed order issued on Thursday, the ECP said that the poll “has not been conducted honestly, fairly and in a transparent manner… leading to make the process of results doubtful/ unascertainable”. Not only did officers of 20 polling stations go missing after the votes were cast, but violent clashes created an atmosphere of intimidation for voters during the day, thereby rendering the exercise egregiously tainted overall. The regulatory body has therefore announced re-election not only at the 20 polling stations that were considered problematic, but in the entire constituency. While the PML-N, which is claiming that its candidate’s mandate was stolen, welcomed the ECP’s decision, the PTI revised its initial stance. It had earlier said that it respected the ECP’s decision and that it proves the PTI had fulfilled its pledge to allow institutions to function independently. Later however, the ruling party said it would challenge it in the Supreme Court.
The Daska by-election can be seen as a test case. With general elections a little over two years away, and possibly other polls in the interim, had the ECP taken a lenient view of the excesses committed, it would have sent a very wrong message and opened the floodgates for more in the same vein. Moreover, the regulatory body has also taken to task those involved in the brazen attempt to thwart the will of the people in the Daska constituency. Exercising the powers given to it under the Elections Act 2017 to ensure that polls are held in a conducive manner, the ECP has ordered federal and provincial authorities to suspend several public officials. These personnel, according to the ECP statement, will not be appointed for any election duty in future. The Punjab chief secretary and IG police, both federal appointees, have been summoned by the regulatory body for “ignoring their duties” on the day in question. It is heartening that the ECP under its current chairman has demonstrated it will tolerate nothing less than a free and fair election.

About The CSS Point

The CSS Point is the Pakistan 1st Free Online platform for all CSS aspirants. We provide FREE Books, Notes and Current Affairs Magazines for all CSS Aspirants.

The CSS Point - The Best Place for All CSS Aspirants

March 2024
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
top
Template Design © The CSS Point. All rights reserved.