The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is a permanent and independent federal body that is responsible for organizing elections to the national parliament. As an independent body, the ECP is constitutionally established. Its main role is to ensure a fair and free election. There are various ways in which the ECP can accomplish its objectives. This article will cover the role of the Election Commission of Pakistan, its functions, members, and funds.
Election Commission of Pakistan
The Election Commission of Pakistan is an independent federal body established by the constitution and constitutionally responsible for organizing national elections. The ECP works to ensure that the results of elections are free and fair. Its mandate is to organize elections for the national parliament. It also organizes local elections. In the country, elections to the national parliament are held every five years.
However, the security situation is so bad that the Election Commission of Pakistan has postponed the by-elections. The security agencies, including the Pakistan Army and the Frontier Corps, are busy ensuring internal security and thwarting terrorist activities. Meanwhile, flooding has damaged buildings, houses, schools, hospitals and highways.
The ECP is a constitutional body that was set up in 1956 to lay the groundwork for a fair and just electoral system. Today, it has evolved into a complex structure responsible for honest elections. The commission consists of five members, with the Chief Election Commissioner as the head. The commission works under the Federal Secretary and is autonomous. It provides employment and benefits to its employees.
The Interior Ministry has requested the ECP to postpone the by-elections. The Interior Ministry cited credible intelligence reports that the PTI will besiege Islamabad between October 12 and 17, which coincides with the by-election date. If the elections are postponed, the government can only deploy a maximum number of troops in the area.
The ECP has been preparing for the next general elections in Pakistan by implementing a series of measures to ensure a fair election. A spokesperson for the commission stated that the total number of registered voters in the country is now at 1,22 million. A spokesperson for the commission added that male voters outnumber female voters by over two-to-one.
Functions
The Election Commission of Pakistan is an independent, constitutional body that is charged with holding free, fair and impartial elections in Pakistan. It is headed by a Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), and has a four-member council. Members are appointed for five-year terms. The Commission conducts nationwide general elections, local government elections, and presidential elections.
The Election Commission is responsible for organizing and conducting the elections, and appoints polling personnel. The Commission also ensures that election procedures are fair, free of fraud, and in compliance with the law. All executive authorities are required to assist the Election Commission in performing its functions. Its responsibilities are detailed in Article 218 of the Constitution.
The ECP provides support for the provinces and municipalities. It also provides support to women’s parliamentary caucuses and SDG Task Forces. In addition, it facilitates capacity building for elected officials and legislative staff. Its mandate is to promote democratic practices and increase the representation of women and minorities in politics.
Elections are meant to bring the government closer to the people. However, there are several factors that work against a representative system of government. It is therefore crucial for the government to take measures to ensure that elections are fair and free. For example, the ECP has a clear role to play in promoting women’s national identity cards, and holding the first provincial elections in the newly-merged areas.
The ECP is responsible for delineating constituencies. Moreover, it must appoint a new chief election commissioner through an independent body. Imran Khan has repeatedly called for the resignation of Raja, and PTI has announced plans to file a reference against him. Further, the party is ready to discuss the matter with PML-N and PPP, which are the two major parties in the current coalition government.
Members
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) consists of four members: the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and four members from each province. These members are appointed by the President of Pakistan on the advice of the prime minister. Their main responsibility is to ensure the integrity of the election process and to organize, conduct, and supervise elections. Members are appointed for five-year terms.
As of now, the ECP has not appointed any new members to fill the vacant seats. This is in violation of Article 224 of the Constitution, which stipulates that the next person in the line of succession is automatically notified after a disqualification. The current ECP members will have to be replaced after the 2023 general elections.
The ECP has been under fire for several years. After the retirement of Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza as CEC, the ECP has become dysfunctional. The ECP also faced a power vacuum following the retirement of two members from Sindh and Balochistan. The EC now includes members from the opposition and treasury benches.
Elections in Pakistan are organized by the Election Commission of Pakistan, a constitutional body. This body has full administrative and financial autonomy and must be supported by all state institutions. It is the responsibility of the ECP to organize and run elections and to oversee the integrity of the electoral process. The ECP is responsible for organizing nationwide general elections and by-elections for provincial and local governments.
Funds
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is a government agency with a statutory mandate to organize elections. Its role is to ensure that the elections are free and fair, conducted according to the law and free from corruption. The Commission also provides assistance to the candidates for the elections.
Recently, the ECP imposed a show-cause order on Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party for receiving illegal foreign funds. According to the order, the party received millions of dollars from foreign countries, including the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Imran Khan had reportedly provided inaccurate financial information to the election commission for years.
The ECP’s decision followed a Financial Times expose on the sources of illegal funding for the PTI. The Financial Times uncovered that donations to the PTI came from a Cayman Islands-based company and an Arab personality. These donations are not disclosed to the public. Imran Khan’s party has appealed the decision of the ECP.
PTI has pleaded not guilty, but the Commission has made the ruling on the prohibited funding case against it. It found that the PTI received donations from foreign individuals and companies from 34 different countries, including the US, Canada, and Australia. According to the Election Commission, the party used ‘unknown accounts’ to conceal funds from the public, which violates the country’s constitution.
The PTI was initially accused of receiving foreign funds, but has since denied the accusations and demanded that the money be revealed. Currently, the commission is investigating two other major political parties, Sharif’s PML-N and his coalition partner PPP.
Review of preparations for upcoming general elections
In the latest round of meetings, the INEC Chairman has disclosed that his body is reviewing its strategic plan and the preparations for the upcoming general elections. He has tasked the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to take early steps to ensure that the materials needed for the elections are available. This is expected to be completed by the end of March. The report will then be validated by stakeholders and implemented accordingly.
The review should include the mandates and responsibilities of the SSAs and EMBs, and identify the other state actors who may have a specific interest in contributing to a peaceful election. These actors include traditional leaders and civil society organizations. The review should also include coordination efforts between the various stakeholders in order to maximize their efforts.
The review should also cover the operational timelines for the various activities to be carried out during the election, from voter information to the registration of political parties and candidates. Polling, counting, and results management are other activities that must be considered and implemented. The operational plans must define the activities and resources that need to be allocated to ensure the integrity of the election. In addition, the operational timelines should be realistic, feasible, and aligned with the election calendar.
The risks of conflict-related violence must also be assessed. The analysis should be multi-agency, involving election officials, security sector agencies, civil society organizations, and academia. It should also include gender and minority dimensions and incorporate prevention strategies.
