Smooth polls

A grand electoral victory was achieved by the UK’s Labour Party on July 5 in the country’s general elections. The party won 411 seats in the House of Commons, helping install its leader as prime minister the very next day after the exit of the defeated incumbent. The Conservatives suffered one of their worst defeats ever. What is so remarkable about general elections in the UK is how smooth and impartial the whole process is. The UK’s governmental institutions are well-embedded and law-abiding, allowing governments to change without much controversy or disputes. Why can’t we do the same here in Pakistan? Our seemingly inept and somewhat dysfunctional Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) always appears to make a mess of our general elections. A lot of time and money is spent on litigation to try and resolve electoral disputes. This all needs to end.

Abbas R Siddiqi

Lahore