CHAMPIONS of democracy in Pakistan, no matter how they plead the case for democracy, have failed to conduct intra-party elections.

Ishrat Husain has rightly pointed out in his book Governing the Ungovernable: Institutional Reforms for Democratic Governance that the only exception to this sinister trend is the Jamaat-i-Islami. Lack of intra-party elections has nurtured personality-based politics in Pakistan. Resultantly, national interests are neglected on the altar of personal interests.

It is incumbent upon our legislators and the Election Commission of Pakistan to devise a mechanism to ensure regular, free and fair intra-party elections.

Malik Muhammad Ahsan Tahir
Peshawar

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2019