January 16, 2007	Tuesday	Zilhaj 25, 1427

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LAHORE, Jan 15: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on Monday responded to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s request for support on democracy in the country by stressing on the “political parties and civil society organisations to take responsibility of ensuring people’s participation in decision-making process”.

In a letter to the former prime minister, the HRCP said that it was necessary to explain advantages of political freedom to the people. Political parties should also make clear how their policies would improve their lives.

The HRCP also suggested a road map to democracy, enumerating nine steps that it thought were necessary for democratic process in the country.

The HRCP stresses on an independent, autonomous and permanent election commission is critical in restoring the people’s faith in the electoral process. Every province must have a provincial election commissioner. It will pave the way to healthy competition in making the process, transparent and inclusive. The selection of the first consensus chief election commissioner (CEC) is important. It must set new traditions. At the same time, this selection cannot be made in a polarised political atmosphere that is highly centralised. Therefore, it poses a challenge. Eventually an independent CEC could be a consensus candidate of the leader of the house and the opposition from a list of names submitted by all parties. The number of names submitted by them could be in proportion to the seats won in the parliament.

The provincial election commissioners should be appointed by the CEC in consultation with the speaker of the provincial assembly, who presents him with a list prepared after consulting all political parties.

The tenure of the first CEC needs to be discussed. The first such appointment could be for a shorter tenure while its successors should have permanence in tenure.

A federal constitutional court will give the judiciary a federal appearance and lift the standard of decision making on constitutional matters. However, the key to an independent judiciary lies in the method of selection of judges to the superior courts, an effective monitoring body and denial of other lucrative positions after retirement. In addition serving judges of superior courts should head neither election nor law commissions.

The Council of Common Interest be made more effective and must meet regularly. Maximum Provincial autonomy should be granted to the provinces even if it is set in motion in rapid stages.

A mechanism should be set up to curb corruption. It should be depoliticised and no person or institution be exempted from accountability. The monitoring body should also prepare annual reports and point out institutional corrupt practices that need to be discontinued. All arbitrary decision in disposing or granting national assets to individuals or institutions should be banned.

The capacity of the parliament should be enhanced. It should meet for a longer duration. Its proceedings should be telecasted and its standing committees strengthened. A free media is helpful in this context but the proceedings of the parliament have to be directly seen by those who elect its members.

The parliamentary standing committee on foreign relations should be allocated adequate resources for research, conducting of proper hearings and most importantly it must have regular access to the foreign office.

Pakistan has suffered immensely because of militancy carried out in the name of religion. In the past, and at presently too, the state apparatus has been reluctant to bring perpetrators of such violence to justice. Pakistani society lives in perpetual fear of threats and suffers acts of violence carried out by religious militant groups with impunity. As such, people can neither act nor express their beliefs in freedom. Political forces must agree and ensure that impunity is not extended to militant group.

All countries having nuclear capability are under obligation to place a proper command and control structure to ensure peace and security for its own citizens as well as for the region. Political parties must resolve to bring the nuclear regime under civilian supervision.

Major political parties in the country have suffered because of their hesitation in taking the people in confidence in times of crisis. They must make people aware of the interference they experience while in power, from unelected bodies. A disclosure after an event only confuses public opinion. Political parties must have more confidence in the people if they want to win their confidence. They must share brewing crisis and be gracious enough to acknowledge the errors made by them, the HRCP road map suggests.

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