BERLIN: Pakistan's upcoming elections will be a biased exercise and country's long-term path to democracy and accountability risks serious derailment if the enforced state of emergency and suspension of country's constitution continue, said Transparency International, calling on government of Pakistan to restore the constitution, judicial independence, freedom of press and the right to assembly.
"Holding elections on schedule is a positive development, but fair and transparent campaigns and elections are not possible without the guarantee of fundamental rights," said Huguette Labelle, Chair of Transparency International.
Looking beyond just the coming elections, Transparency International noted that judicial independence has been severely compromised by political interference from the executive. "An incapacitated judiciary is no longer able to check government impunity and hold leaders accountable for their actions," said Pascal Fable, Regional Director for the Asia Pacific.
"With the suspension of the constitution and a muzzled judiciary, the country is more vulnerable to abuse of power because there in no rule of law."
"All candidates and parties, across the political spectrum and including the opposition, must be open about their record and their agenda and need to answer question from the public and the media. This is an essential part of transparent campaigning and is currently impossible under emergency rule," said Labelle.
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