A day doesn't go by without a Pakistani politician stressing the need to hold free, fair and transparent elections. And there's a reason for their paranoia; not once have polls in this country been acceptable for all.

While we may think there is something inherently wrong with us, Irfan Husain, in his Saturday's op-ed, explained that tampering with the democratic exercise is actually a global menace.

He cites several global examples — most from the Muslim world but also including the US — to make the point that the powers that be are trying to remain the powers that be, even if they have to indulge in the dark arts.

Once he's done painting a bleak picture, Husain also offers a glimmer of hope. He says that Pakistan can, for once, hold free and fair polls if they take a leaf out of Sri Lanka's book, of 2016.

Activists from opposition parties kept an eye on each polling station, their mobile phones cameras at the ready. They then followed the ballot boxes to the local counting stations. Their presence caused polling staff to go by the book — Irfan Husain

His message being pretty simple: be extra vigilant on election day and keep your phone batteries charged to the max.