THE ECP’s reasoning for postponing by-elections just days before the first few seats were to be contested has not held up under scrutiny. Citing the “unavailability” of Pakistan Army, Rangers and FC personnel due to their engagement in flood relief operations, the ECP had on Sept 8 expressed its inability to conduct elections in a “peaceful environment” without them. Based on that reasoning, it had announced that polling for 10 National Assembly and three provincial assembly seats would be held on other dates, “when the situation improves, and law enforcement agencies are available”. However, these explanations seemed like an eyewash to many, and the political parties affected by the postponement of polls were justified in feeling frustrated. Most of the constituencies going to by-polls had not been severely impacted by floods. Even if a few constituencies had been affected, the ECP could have considered granting a postponement on a case-by-case basis rather than issuing a blanket order. The ECP may have been cognisant of its weak reasoning, because it repeatedly underlined the unavailability of armed forces personnel as its main reason for postponement. However, this sounded like an unreasonable argument given that the by-elections were spread over the length of the country, split in three rounds and were to be held in just 13 constituencies. The human resources requirement could not have been as substantial as to affect ongoing flood relief operations in any meaningful way. It should also be asked why the ECP seemingly gave short shrift to civilian law-enforcement personnel for polling day security duties.

Yesterday, the ECP announced that by-polls for three PA seats and one NA seat (NA 157) would now be held on Oct 9. The date for by-polls for the remaining NA seats, however, will be decided on Sept 14. One of the NA seats (NA 246) is no longer expected to be contested as the PTI lawmaker who occupied it has had his resignation overturned through the IHC. It is disappointing, however, that even with the new schedule, the commission has only expressed a “hope” that all institutions will be available for polling day duties on the announced dates. The democratic process should not be subject to the availability of the armed forces. In choosing the easy way out of what should now be routine logistical challenges for the commission, the ECP has only stirred controversy and allowed its critics to assail its integrity.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2022