THE news of selection of Justice G. Ebrahim as the new chief election commissioner (CEC) of Pakistan gave a hope to all of us that we are now on at least the right path of true democracy, which is the only way to solutions of all the devils we are facing.

The government’s decision of selecting such a man of justice to the seat of the CEC gave a reflection of its political maturity. Free, fair and transparent elections can only be the source to keep democracy on rail. Meritorious selection of Justice Ebrahim is a good omen in this regard. Now the further problems of a fair election are to be faced by the new CEC.

Most important of them are: cancellation of bogus vote lists and introducing new lists of voters, introduction of more authentic voting system (fingerprint or electronic), formation of a reliable and broadly acceptable interim setup, better law and order situation on election days and provision of complete security to each and every voter, specially to women in particular areas, an eager eye on the whole election campaign of every candidate and other issues specially relating to undeveloped, countryside or rural areas where votes are bought by sardars and voters are forced to vote against their wills.

Dear chief election commissioner, you are a hope for all Pakistanis to take our country on the path of peace and prosperity. The only solution to all the problems of our country is a democratic future of Pakistan. And the only solution to the survival of democracy in Pakistan is free, fair and transparent elections.

We have strong hopes in your ability and sense of justice that Pakistan’s bright future is not far from us with the contribution of people like you and everyone of this country.

DR ABID HASSAN Hyderabad

Fair elections

ALMOST all elections held in Pakistan have been challenged. The 1971 election did claim to be fair, but it halved the country, as it was held after 13 years of the martial law regime, while the election was held in violation of the interim Constitution of 1947.

This constitution was also in violation of the founding father’s Objectives Resolution of 1953.

After the 1971 division of the country the 1973 Constitution was adopted under the civilian martial law administtrator through less than half the National Assembly, without fresh mandate, which was essential.

This Constitution violated the founding father’s Objectives Resolution, which was based on the very promise to the voters for creating Pakistan to enforce the principles of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), due to which they offered immense sacrifices.

However, despite the legal and ethical flaws this constitution kept the Objectives Revolution in the preamble, while violating it by adopting the Un-Islamic parliamentary system instead of the presidential system as required by it.

This has since been adopted as an integral part of the Constitution as Art2/A. The parliamentary system has miserably failed by creating the worst corruption by the government, causing abject misery to the masses, besides very high foreign and local debts, leading the country to the state of collapse as a failed state in the eyes of the world.

Therefore, the coming elections have to be based on the Islamic concept of the presidential system under Article 2/A of the Constitution.

The worthy chief election commissioner is requested to save the country from economic collapse, by referring the Supreme Court to clarify the constitutional contradiction between Article 2/A and the current parliamentary system, which has failed.

The CEC will have to frame new election rules accordingly, while the Supreme Court will have to clarify the details in collaboration with the Islamic Council.

S. M. H. Rizvi Karachi