Pakistan Bar Council stresses need for level-playing field for all political parties

Stressing the need for the provision of a level playing field to all political parties so that they could run their election campaigns without any fear, the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) on Tuesday showed its strong reservations over the demarcations of constituencies and the distribution of seats done by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ahead of the general elections scheduled to be held on February 8, 2024, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The PBC was of the view that in order to make the elections transparent, all political parties should be provided equal opportunities to present to the masses their manifestoes so that they could convince them to vote for them.

In its statement, the Bar said there was a growing impression that the present election commission could not hold free, fair and transparent elections in the country.

It further said that discrepancies had been noticed in the seats’ distribution in Jhelum, Gujranwala and Rawalpindi districts. “If compared with the ratio of population in these areas, the present delineations of constituencies raise questions over the transparency of the electoral process,” read the statement.

There is no doubt, the PBC adds, that the way the ECP is running its affairs creates doubts over its ability to hold free and fair elections. “In view of this situation, the election commission could not simply shut its eyes and say all is well,” the Bar states categorically.

The PBC appeals to the Supreme Court that instead of ratifying each and every action of the ECP, it should take notice of these anomalies.

The Bar says it is its strong belief that the purpose is not only to hold the elections, but to also ensure that these should be free, fair and transparent. 

It is further stated in the statement that the PBC will soon, after consultations with the Supreme Court Bar, convene an All Pakistan Lawyers’ Convention in order to announce a strategy for launching a lawyers’ movement.

“The purpose of the convention is to make sure that polls are free, fair and transparent.”

Reporter: Rozeena Ali