AS the democratic experiment continues in Pakistan — despite all obstacles — and polling day draws near, it is essential for the electoral process to be seen as free, fair and transparent. For this, press releases from government functionaries claiming that the process is fair are not enough. Observers, foreign and local, as well as the media, must be granted access to assess for themselves how transparent the elections, and the run-up to them, are. However, there seem to be some hiccups. As reported in this paper on Saturday, the European Union Election Observation Mission to Pakistan has said that due to late accreditation, it would not be able to assess key aspects of the July 25 polls. Giving details, the mission said “due to a series of bureaucratic delays”, members of the team arrived in the country in late June and early July, though as per their methodology, they needed to be in Pakistan in early June. However, the EU body said it would continue to observe the elections in Pakistan and present its report on July 27.

The polls, firstly, must appear credible to the people of Pakistan — the most important stakeholders in the electoral process. Secondly, the world community must be assured that Pakistani democracy is evolving and that all pillars of the state are working towards the goal of transparent polls. For this, foreign observers must have free access, and it is hoped that accredited teams from the EU and elsewhere do not face any further obstacles in their work. Moreover, the local and foreign media must also be given free access to the polling process. The world over the fourth estate plays a key role in pointing out irregularities in the electoral process, and Pakistan should be no different. Indeed, fair elections face many obstacles in this country — from unfair electoral practices and allegations of pre-poll rigging, to physical elimination of candidates. The only way to improve the process is to open it up to constructive criticism at home and abroad.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2018