PAKISTAN ELECTIONS' HISTORY (PART 1)

Independent, free and fair Elections are like backbone of democratic process in a country. Countries, where democracy has become very much strong have no concept of caretaker governments, since the last elected government itself governs the process of election. These countries include America, India and United Kingdom. On the other hand countries, where democracy is not so much strong like America, India and UK, there comes a concept of caretaker government. This CT (caretaker) government takes charge from last elected assembly and conducts elections then hands over the charge of governing to the next elected government. Its duties include conducting free and fair elections, stopping rigging, facilitating election commission. As these CT government is never an elected one, it therefore do not hold the right to amend the constitution.

In Pakistan there remained uncertainty since the division of sub-continent. Due to several amendments in constitution, now it is almost impossible to target ECP (Election Commission of Pakistan).
In 1973 it was decided that at the end of democratic term Prime Minister and Opposition Leader, both will submit three names after discussion to Parliamentarian Committee, which will select one of the given names. The selected name will be sent to President of Pakistan, who will finalize the name. If any case PM and OL do not agree on a same name, then both will submit there names directly to Committee, who will send suggested names to President.

In Pakistan the democracy is evolving. During last 66 years, there were several ups and downs in Pakistani politics. There came several rulers and governments. Unfortunately none of them was able to complete its tenure of 5 years except the currently dissolved assemblies. This was due to intervention of Army and the so-called 8th amendment. It happened very first time in Pakistan that an elected government had completed its five year tenure. Although it was not a successful government and it rose to energy, financial, social, economical and several other crises, it was able to complete the period of 5 years. It was all possible due to the largest opposition party PML (Nawaz Sharif Group), which did not made any hurdle for any of its decisions. The PML (N) is also now known as friendly opposition.

Even this government has completed its five years with corruption and blames with it, still there is no name in the history of Pakistani Prime ministers who had completed its tenure.