Pakistan elections & Election Commission

The Election Commission of Pakistan was created on 23rd March 1956 under the Article 137 of the Constitution of 1956 with the Chief Election Commissioner as its head. The first Chief Election Commissioner was appointed on 25th June 1956. The Election Commission of Pakistan is an independent and autonomous constitutional body charged with the function of conducting transparent, free, fair and impartial elections to the National and Provincial Assemblies. The holding of elections to the office of the President and the Senate are, however, the functions of the Chief Election Commissioner. Under the existing laws the conduct of Local Government Elections is also the responsibility of the Chief Election Commissioner

The 2008 elections in Pakistan are very different from the previous elections. These elections are happening at that crucial juncture of our history when the country is rocking with bomb blasts and people are wary of suicide bombers, and the hapless populace of Pakistan is yearning for power, gas, flour and other basic necessities of life.

These are those times, when the media is controlled, judiciary is deposed, and rigging news are rampant and PML-N, PPP are daily publishing white papers, writing letters and issuing statements regarding the rigging to media, but in vain.

These are those elections which are a do or die for this country, but the sad thing is that the election commission is partisan, care-taker government is the extension of previous regime led by PML-Q, the King’s party, and still the local governments are very much active and allegedly using the state machinery to ensure the victory of turn coats in their respective constituencies.

But despite of all these dark shadows, the power of vote goes beyond all evil measures, and it is the onus upon the shoulders of Pakistanis to exercise their right of vote to change the system to secure their future. This is perhaps the last chance for them.