AT least the PML-N has proven one thing: when the party leadership is keen enough, electoral reforms can be mooted overnight. Out of the blue, a cabinet meeting on Monday threw out the idea of changing the procedure by which senators are to be elected in a matter of days.

The ostensible problem that a sudden constitutional amendment was proposed to resolve? Vote-buying in the provincial assemblies that has jeopardised what the PML-N believes is its rightful share of seats in the Senate.

Know more: PML-N for Senate polls by show of hands

Consider that for a moment: PML-N MPAs are distrusted by the PML-N central leadership to vote for PML-N candidates in a secret ballot and the only solution the PML-N central leadership can come up with is to amend the Constitution to have a public vote by a show of hands.

If that is not a damning indictment of all that is wrong with the electoral and political process in the country, then what else possibly could be? Rightfully, the PML-N’s desperate plan has been rejected by the Election Commission of Pakistan and even otherwise, other political parties, while semi-welcoming the PML-N’s idea for similar reasons, have pointed out the problem of converting the single transferrable vote into a vote by a show of hands.

Why though did the PML-N even have to dream up such a scheme? Having fought consecutive general elections and having had every opportunity to select its preferred candidates in the last general election, could not the party have picked candidates who were above vote-selling and tawdry electoral shenanigans?

The party may well point out that in several cases, especially in Balochistan, the present cohort of PML-N provincial representatives has individuals who were elected as independents and chose to join the party after it swept to power at the centre.

But then, the party would simply be admitting that it opened the door to opportunists in one election and is now trying to bolt the door to keep those opportunists from cashing in on a fresh opportunity at the next election.

The PML-N is, in effect, trying to have it both ways: welcoming opportunists when they vote in the PML-N’s favour and then trying to appeal to higher principles when the electoral winds turn against them.

Belated as the PML-N’s recognition of vote-buying and the unwelcome role of money in politics is, it would have been far better if the party had sought to introduce the Senate electoral reforms as part of the much-awaited and long-promised general election reforms. But those latter reforms still appear to be something the PML-N is not really interested in.

Also, it would have helped if the PML-N had proposed internal party reforms to improve the quality of party members and encourage a financially cleaner, more professional and less parochial type of candidate. As ever though, the PML-N remains mired in the narrowest, most parochial of approaches.

Published in Dawn February 25th , 2015

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