Speech by The Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan on The National Review Workshop held at Pearl Continental Hotel, Bhurban
ADDRESS TO PARTICIPANTS OF NATIONAL REVIEW WORKSHOP
HELD AT PEARL CONTINENTAL HOTEL, BHURBAN
JUNE 5, 2008
Elections held on 18th February,2008 have established Pakistan’s place among first world democracy States.
--- Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad,
Secretary Election Commission Of Pakistan.
Ch. Qamar-uz-Zaman, Provincial Election Commissioner, Sindh
Mr. Javed Khurshid, Provincial Election Commissioner, Punjab
Mr. Sono Khan Baloch, Provincial Election Commissioner, Balochistan
Mr. Azhar Saeed Malik, Project Manager, SNEP, Islamabad
Ladies and Gentlemen
Asslam-o-Alaikum!
Today’s National Review Workshop is a continuation of Provincial Review Workshops held in all four Provinces. Valuable and highly useful suggestions made by you and other field officers are now being examined. Provincial Election Commissioners, Joint Secretaries, Joint Election Commissioners, Deputy Election Commissioners. Assistant Election Commissioners and senior officers of Election Commission Secretariat are participating in today’s National Workshop, which has increased importance of this event.
I feel pleasure in welcoming here professionally most competent officers of Election Commission of Pakistan, who have developed commendable expertise in election management. I can see, at a cursory glance, my respectable friends sitting here, who under the able guidance of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Qazi Muhammad Farooq, Chief Election Commissioner, conducted February 2008 elections with utmost honesty, neutrality and impartiality. Their services will always be remembered for bringing transparency in electoral and democratic process.
Today we have gathered here to consider jointly issues and challenges for Election Commission and to devise strategies to find their workable solutions.
Strong democratic culture provides base for a strong country. If we look at the history of developed countries in the world, it becomes quite evident that these countries strengthened their systems by adhering to democracy. They never stopped their journey to democracy even in most unfavorable circumstances. We will, therefore, have to show determination in reinforcing our national institutions so that nation’s journey towards democracy continues uninterrupted. It is beauty of democratic systems that whenever occasion arises, public opinion is translated into suitable legislation to solve the problems. Democracy also provides sacred right to the people to subject their elected representatives to accountability.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
We all are well aware of pivotal role that Election Commission plays in establishing democratic system in the country. Election Commission is charged with the fundamental responsibility of holding elections in the country in fair and transparent manner with complete neutrality and impartiality. Recently concluded general elections , which were held on the basis of these universally recognized principles, were declared as most transparent by all political parties and civil society organizations in the country as well as international observers and other election monitoring institutions. After these elections Pakistan is considered as one of the first world democracy States.
As many as seventy-five women parliamentarians have taken oath of their offices in Pakistan, which is something extraordinary in our political history. National Assembly at the very outset elected one of its lady Member Dr. Fehmida Mirza as its Speaker , which is an evidence of democratic Pakistan.
In fact Pakistan has played leading role in removing obstacles in the ways of women leaders of the world by electing its distinguished women political leaders to high offices. In United States now for the first time a woman has become possible Presidential candidate. It was only last year that a lady was elected to the office of the Speaker of House Of Representatives in USA, after about 218 years of their existence as an independent State. Women in USA were able to get their right to vote in about 150 years.
In contrast in Pakistan Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto was one of the pioneer women leaders, who were elected as Heads of Governments in their countries. She was recognized as a great Muslim woman leader of our age, though she had to pay for her brave leadership very heavily. But she has left behind legacy of sacrifices for establishment of democratic culture in the country. If democracy is not an isolated event but a continuous process, then elections held on 18th February,2008 are a significant step forward in the direction of a true democratic set up in the country. Women may have different perceptions and priorities than their male counterparts but such differences, in fact, help in fortifying foundations of democratic culture.
Respected participants!
Election Commission has decided to carry out in depth study of all positive suggestion received by it after General Elections from National and International Observers, Civil Society Organizations and political parties. Accordingly Hon’ble Chief Election Commissioner has constituted “Electoral Reforms Committee” with the objective of making suitable recommendations for further improving election process for bringing more stability and strength to democratic culture in the country. Election Commission is conscious of the fact that reforms are a continuous process necessary for bringing more credibility to national institutions in Pakistan. Conscious efforts to improve systems have always been instrumental in developing countries and their core institutions.
In order to meet challenges of constantly changing present era, the Election Commission has taken important measures for using modern technology for ensuring increased participation of common citizens in electoral activities. The staff of Election Commission and particularly IT wing has played crucial role in this regard. Their efforts resulted in timely hoisting of all necessary data and information on the website of Election Commission. We achieved another remarkable landmark by bringing all electoral rolls on our website. Similarly election results were also available immediately on our website which was appreciated by all stake holders. The purpose of all these measures was to make election process more transparent and credible. Innovations made by us in the electoral processes have been recognized at all levels.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
All of you are aware that Election Commission is a Constitutional institution, whose main objective is to ensure harmonious and credible elections that will give hope and a bright future to the people of Pakistan.
I pay my tribute to field staff of Election Commission particularly to Deputy Election Commissioners and Assistant Election Commissioners for their untiring efforts and round the clock services inachieving target of free, fair and transparent elections. I hope they will continue to perform their duties with same spirit, devotion and hard work.
I wish this Workshop a great success.
Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad,
Secretary,
Election Commission of Pakistan,
Islamabad.