Development work and political ritual

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has ordered State Bank and other financial institutions to freeze all development funds pertaining to local government institutions, with immediate effect till the results of the February 8 polls were announced. The Electoral Watchdog observed that it was imperative for the commission to take all necessary steps to prevent local government institutions and cantonment boards from taking any such action which amounted to influencing the results of the polls. The ECP added that it was necessary on its part to provide a level playing field for political parties and contesting candidates, because ensuring a just, honest, fair and smooth polls is the primary responsibility of the Electoral authority.

The Election Authority stirred up after a brief nap, to sensitize the civic groups and local governments about its responsibility more than a month after announcement of election schedule. In fact, it is a long held peculiar working style of our state institutions through which they often cried over spilt milk after the occurrence of theft and the escape of thieves from the scene. A divisional bench of Peshawar High Court (PHC) has stopped all the ongoing developmental works in the province about two months but the Election Authority was asleep and could not undertake those important tasks timely.

Historically, the development work plays an important role in shaping election results in Pakistan, as it does in many other countries in the world. The initiation of development work, such as improvements in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and economic opportunities, significantly influence the voters, owing to the positive impacts of these activities on their lives and livelihood. The contesting political groups and their henchmen sitting in important offices including local governments and caretaker setups at provincial and federal levels have already taken all such actions including the initiation of development works, road construction, provision of electricity and gas connections etc, to improve public perception and influence people opinion through tactful use of public money. However, the ECP has fulfilled the important quote that late coming is better than never, so this important political ritual has been performed at the later stage ahead of curical polls in the country.