The recently held elections were supposed to bring about the modicum of political stability that would allow some form of economic recovery, or at least a lessening of the economic agony that is afflicting the country. The theory goes that only a government composed of the representatives of the people has the ability and sufficient popular support necessary to formulate the policy necessary for that economic improvement.However, they do not seem to have worked. Ever since the elections, problems seem to have multiplied: First, there has been the problem of government formation. Though there seems to be a major effort for Mian Shehbaz Sharif to return to office, the National Assembly has still to deal with the fact that the plurality to members, belong to the PTI, but were all elected as independents. Even though the PTI won 93 seats through independents, it alleges that it won 54 more, with rigging preventing these losses. That would take the PTI total to 147, out of 266, which would make it impossible to form a government for any other party. At the moment, it would be possible. Though the PTI protests after Friday have not yet gone out of control, such chaos is not all that far.
The claims of Commissioner Rawalpindi Liaquat Chattha as he resigned, that he had instructed his subordinates to change the results, through Form 47, would merely add fuel to the fire, and unfortunately that claim is going to gain traction, because it indicates how the elections might have been robbed. Those claims should be investigated thoroughly. PML(N) Punjab President Rana Sanaullah has claimed that Mr Chattha suffered mental problems, or Punjab Information Minister Amir Mir’s speculating that he was seeking a political future after his retirement in March notwithstanding, a through probe is needed. The PTI suggestion of a judicial probe deserves serious consideration.
At this point, the restoration of the credibility of elections must be the priority. If the elections are seen as unfair, and if the allegations against them are not rebutted convincingly, the next government will be busy fighting to establish its legitimacy to be able to tackle the very serious problems facing the country. That is something the country cannot afford, so the present National Assembly must have its credibility restored, because any government it throws up is only as credible as it is.
