The Role of Election and Election Commission of Pakistan in the Development of Democracy in Pakistan

Abstract

Democracy is the best government system in the world. In this system, the peoples are independent to choose their own representatives and therefore it is called representative government as opposed to the dictatorship wherein no one is allowed to elect their governments – the voice of the people is suppressed. In the third world either democracy is not flourish at par with the developed world, or it is time and again derailed by the military dictators particularly in Pakistan. Since, in democracy, the representatives are elected by the peoples through elections; therefore, the fair, impartial and transparent election is the most important aspect in developing the democracy. The Part VIII having two Chapters and spanning Articles from 213 to 226 of the Constitution 1973 entrusts the task to Election Commission of Pakistan to conduct fair, impartial, and transparent elections in the country. Apart from Constitutional and Election Act 2017 provisions; the superior courts in Pakistan have pronounced a plethora of cases wherein the ECP is declared duty-bound to conduct elections fairly, impartially, and transparently. Unfortunately, the ECP has failed in discharging its duty.