Reforming the Political System at ground level By Tariq J Qureshi (TQ)

Mega scandals is now the latest news, and every name associated in these white color crime is a combination of politicians and their cronies appointed in government positions either on contract, or are regular people employed as government officers. So smart and fearless are these gangs that they plan the abuse of every authority for personal enrichment at our expense. Think about it, how time and again these corrupt get into corridors of power repeatedly. Answer is simple, there is no accountability or transparency build into the system. Worst the same set of people have crafted constitutional protections with indirect phrases, and the nation is today in the grips of the most corrupt people.

How did we reach this state? First to blame is the closed loop constitution that has been amended to bypass the scrutiny to make them demi-Gods, and all in your name. The only way the system can be saved from further abuse is by building laws at the basic foundation where democracy starts at party level.

Here are the recommendations that need to be implemented today to weed out the incompetent and corrupt right from entering the first stage in politics.

1. The Political parties Act 2002 is the starting point of practical politics and needs to have new rules. Firstly all political parties’ membership and internal election processes laid out have to be integrated into political system where ECP has to work and monitor all year around as watch dog of the political system. The following provisions have to be added to the Act to nurture accountable political atmosphere in all parties:

(a) Minimal membership of one year is mandatory to be eligible to vote or contest in internal elections.
(b) Article 62/63 has to be amended into practical yes/no quantifiable parameters (like good moral character is a hypothetical term) and will be applicable for internal party elections also to weed out unsuitables.
(c) For national, provincial, senate and LG candidature the party membership will internally select the candidates through elections only, and they will not be nominated. This will eliminate the Lota system where people switch parties to become candidates on last minutes. Similarly President, PM, CM and Governorship candidates from the party will follow same process and procedure.
(d) All internal elections will be held through e-voting to have fast and timely elections through ECP developed system instead of tainted manual system. NOTA (None of the above) and mandatory knockout election between top two will follow if no one can get 50% clear majority. If NOTA gets more votes than others, all inner party candidates will be barred for 5-years.
(e) Elections for all purposes will be based on Present Address listed in CNIC card as present system is illogical considering people work from present address and use the infrastructure of where they live and not what is listed as permanent address. This is also mean more people will participate in elections, as it will be a local affair and not requiring special travel to so called ‘permanent address’.

2. Process used for internal party elections will also be now used in National, Provincial, Senate and LG level. Elections for all these seats will happen simultaneously through e-voting so that no party can influence elections held during reign of ruling party and all levels of government have a fresh start.
3. President, PM, CM and Governors will be elected directly by the people instead of so called representatives in assembly that we have seen time and again as a failed system that holds the nation at bay for 5 years.
4. Referendum will be called through e-voting on all major bills and national issues. It is normal in all democracies where citizen groups collect signatures and ask for a recall of non-performing representatives. Many Governors and others have been asked to resign by parties themselves for damage control when a politician is threatened with referendum.
5. The Greek referendum was held this weekend, and there were similar referendums held that creates accountability, transparency and automated checks of political processes where national decision is desired.
6. These systems are not new and are used in all levels and people are de-seated by peoples lobby's on minor corruption, charged and sentenced according to law. Remember when accountability is held where the money trail is followed for accountability, the transparency is automatically inculcated, and both white collar and material corruption is eliminated. (Sindh Government performance is a good example)

These points are just the start. We will be presenting new concepts of transparency in following articles, as the existing constitution has lost its meanings with corruption infested processes and procedures for implementation.

All political parties and especially the ones free from taint are the only ones who should support and present the proposals in the National Assembly. The truth is we will find who stands with the people or against the people when these amendments are proposed.

by webmaster@insaf.pk (tkiadmin)