THE Chief Election Commissioner has categorically said that he is not resigning and shall complete the mission by holding free and fair elections.

Since the government has committed in writing, while signing the Islamabad long march declaration, that elections will be held
according to the constitution, and that while carrying out scrutiny of candidates it cannot move away from its commitment.

Both sides have interlocked engagements put on a piece of paper for the betterment of the future of this country. Hopefully what the paper and the engagement tabulate would be implemented on the ground.

The ECP has one month for the scrutiny of candidates after the filing of applications. Implementing the criteria as set out in the constitution may take more time.

The ECP should immediately start collecting data of sitting legislators irrespective of party affiliation and obtain latest information about them. This should include loan defaulters, utility defaulters, tax evaders, corruption cases, cases involving moral turpitude, abuse of power, etc.

Apart from, intelligence agencies may be tasked to obtain all types of information about the present lot of politicians, their family members, friends, close associates, beneficiaries, etc

Any department, organisation and bank the ministries found giving wrong information should be awarded an exemplary punishment. This exercise shall help in weeding out the corrupt from the scene and a new leadership shall emerge to save the country.

The nation should cooperate and strengthen the hands of the CEC to make history.

What the nation cannot afford is to blow away another opportunity afforded by the created circumstances to us. I hope that politicians and politics in Pakistan would rise to the occasion and create a system that sends the ‘filtered representatives’ to the assemblies. Filtered through the process of accountability that the ECP must ensure and sustain.

MUKHTAR AHMED BUTT
Karachi

Number of votes

CHIEF Election Commissioner Fakhrudin G. Ibrahim is no doubt a man of acumen and integrity. It is perfectly clear that his headship would bring a great change in the electoral history of Pakistan and the upcoming election would be held in a just and fair manner.

However, since the inception of Pakistan the number of voters had always remained very meagre in the past elections. It is true that it is the fundamental right of every citizen to cast vote but no one can be stressed to use this specific fundamental right.

The 190 million people of Pakistan consist of 65 per cent of youths who are the backbone of social, cultural, economic and political change and development, like the youths in every developing country are. Pakistan is bestowed with this blessing and so it is now the paramount responsibility of the government, in general, and the Election Commission of Pakistan, in particular, to facilitate and convince our youths to use their right and authority to vote for the purpose to participate in the new upcoming political setup.

Besides, the educated people should also be properly encouraged to take part in the coming elections because they can rightly differentiate between right and wrong. Furthermore, they can also assess and evaluate the manifesto of different political parties. There is a great disparity in the vote of an educated person and an illiterate.

The Chief Election Commissioner is, therefore, requested to initiate a process to convince the youth and the educated people to use their right to vote so that Pakistan may be veered on the right direction of development and prosperity.

SADAF JALIL KHAN
Peshawar Cantt