The recent report released by the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) is going to stir up a new controversy according to which some of the presidential candidates are having criminal records and their names may be omitted from the list of candidates. The list of presidential candidates will be revised and these names will be removed and they will not be allowed to take part in the upcoming elections. However, the Commission refused to announce the names of candidates and they will be dealt with secretly.
These accusations were of land grabbing, war crime and corruption and there were also present some other accusations against them. The Commission announced to investigate these accusations and if these blames were sustained by proofs, necessary action will be taken against them and their names will be removed from the list of final candidates. After their names are removed from the list, their cases will be handed over to the office of Attorney General for further legal follow-up. The Commission also notified the scrutiny of candidates on the grounds of dual citizenship. In the initial stage of scrutiny, a number of candidates were disqualified on the grounds of dual citizenship.
The report at one hand makes logical the existence of the Commission to hear the complaints against the candidates but at the other, it shows the weaknesses and flaws in the nomination process of candidates. It is the responsibility of Independent Election Commission to thoroughly check different information about the candidates and they should not have been allowed to be nominated and their names should have not been included in the list of candidates.
It is quite strange that these actions are taken when a short period of time is remaining to the elections and all the necessary arrangements like printing and others have been done. At the same time, the presidential candidates have started their preparations and they have already spent a large amount of money for their election campaigns. It means that, when the results of investigation will come and these candidates will be disqualified, there would have been very less time and this will create great frustration and indiscipline in the whole election process. At the same time, this excuse will be used to favor some and remove some from the list of candidates. It is necessary that the fair and just investigation should be carried out and proper and necessary action should be taken against all without any discrimination.
This report has served a part of its purpose and will completely serve its purpose when the necessary actions will be taken in the light of its investigations.