Elections are the backbone of
democratic societies and are representative of citizens’ opinion about their
rulers. In countries like Pakistan, the elections’ history is not too pleasant
and we have seen bloodshed, application of corrupt practices and, above all,
non-credibility. After the fall of President Musharaf, the true democratic
process has been taking roots in the Pakistan. After the Bhutto’s regime, the
government of Pakistan People’s Party is the first who has completed its tenure
without premature fatal interception by non-politicalforces.
Elections of 2013 are of great importance because it is for the first time that
a smooth power transfer is going to take place and in conformity with the
constitutional injunctions. And, above all, the political parties seem mature in
their approach towards the nation.
The role of other political parties has also been in line with democratic norms
and values. The first and foremost challenge to the coming elections is the
deteriorating law and order condition of the country. Justice Fakhruddin
Ibrahim, the Chief Election Commissioner,is himself reported to have said that
the worsening situation of the law and order of the country is posing serious
threats to the coming elections.
Another potential threat to the democratic process of elections is the making
and completion of the voter’s list. Last time, there were more than 30 million
votes which are reported to have been fake. In this regard, the Supreme Court
has ordered to make new voters’ list which will be according to the judgment of
Supreme Court. This time, according to orders of Apex court, due attention has
been given to the making to voters’ lists. On Tuesday, ECP has announced that
the 84 million voters have been registered.
This time, the number of female voters has also increased to 36,591,359. The new
challenge which is faced by the ECP is that the increased number of voters and
foreign observers’ presence on the election polls would be a great pressure on
the interim government holding the elections 2013.
The respective number of males and female voters in each provinces: Punjab
27,297,361 (male) and 21,011,283 (female), Sindh 10,214,460 (male) and 8,218,417
(female), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 6,929,105 (male) and 5,135,492 (female),
Balochistan 1,886,235 (male) and 1,391,929 (female), FATA 1,120,736 (male) and
55,523 (female) and Islamabad 325,795 (male) 279,007 (female).
Election campaign budget limitations are also one of the challenges which are to
be addressed. In the past, we found that millions of rupees were spent on the
election campaigns and also “buying of votes”. This time the proper
implementation of the code of conduct for the election campaign would be
legendry discretion of the ECP. Election 2013.