IF there is to be a semblance of competitive and fair elections from this point onwards, now that the candidate lists have been finalised by the ECP, it will require a change of attitude by institutions and political parties themselves. First, the role of institutions. It is fairly clear that thus far the run-up to the general election has been marred by too many instances of candidates being sidelined and taken out of the electoral equation on one pretext or another. While the application of the law cannot be suspended and those seeking public office must be subjected to more scrutiny than the average citizen, a process involving multiple steps and several layers of vetting has led to the finalisation of the ballots in each constituency. For an election to be reasonably fair and for the voter to have a clear understanding of the choice she has, there needs to be certainty about the candidates and their party affiliations on the final ballot.

With polling day scheduled for 24 days from today, there ought to be no further unnecessary interventions by institutions. The public ought to have a chance to familiarise itself with the final candidates and their party affiliations at the constituency level before deciding whom to cast its vote for. Unless compelling evidence is produced or immediate action is absolutely warranted, the ECP and the courts should not derail further candidacies between now and election day. After the poll, matters can be revisited if the evidence warrants an intervention. Second, political parties themselves ought to put an end to the bartering and seat adjustments that can blight election day. Certainly, qualified candidates have a right to seek the ticket of any political party, and political parties are expected to try and maximise their prospects of success. But last-minute and eleventh-hour deal-making and bartering can undermine the fairness of an election. The voter should be presented with a clear and fixed choice on the ballot paper.

Finally, political parties and institutions of the state should recognise that the democratic process itself is under scrutiny in the country. The country is on the verge of a historic general election because there is a broad institutional and political consensus that civilian elected governments are the only stable and viable path to governing the country. However, there are quite obviously deep divisions between sections of the political class and sections of the state. The national political leadership is also arguably more divided than it has been at any other point since the 1990s. How institutions and political parties choose to conduct themselves in the final weeks going into the historic general election could have a long-lasting effect on the democratic project in the country. It is hoped that good sense, caution and a spirit of conciliation will prevail. A fiercely contested election should not lead to an unravelling of politics.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2018