What will the caretakers take care of?

What will the caretakers take care of?

News:

1. Akbar Zaidi is a political economist from Karachi argues about the credibility of caretaker government in Pakistan.

Important Facts:

2. Pakistan for the first had a caretaker government from the judiciary which comprise of Chief justice of Pakistan.

• The rise of Pakistan’s judiciary is considered as transitions of power towards civilian government.
•  Caretaker governments are an institutionalized interim government to facilitate a smooth transfer of power from one elected government to another.

• A caretaker government serves the period of time between the dissolution of parliament and the formation of a new government.
• The main aim of caretaker governments is to carry on the ordinary business of government and ensure administrative continuity during an electoral period while preventing any major decisions from being taken.

3. Military dominance

• Pakistan has witness three-decade-long military dictatorships rule.
• Till date Pakistan had 10 general elections since 1970 all which were neither free nor fair because of military’s dominance in government.
• The judiciary was only constitutional ally throughout the military period.

4. The Lawyers’ Movement

• The Lawyers’ Movement in 2007 acted as pressure group to bringing back democracy to Pakistan.
• The Lawyers’ Movement became one of popular movements against military rule.
• The Lawyers’ Movement calls for superior judiciary that will be independent, pro-democratic and will ensure fair the electoral process against military hegemony.

5. Positive aspects of Judiciary

• The judiciary was seen to emerge as a free and independent force defending the Constitution.
• Judiciary is viewed as overstepping to rule the dominance power of military in Pakistan.
• Judiciary ruled government will try to promote accountability and transparency in the government.
• The Supreme Court is viewed as “self-righteous” for coordination between administration and political party.
• The judiciary is being perceived as being partial to certain individuals and institutions.

6. The judiciary practiced ‘judicial activism’ by deporting two elected Prime Ministers, one for contempt of court and the other for not being a sagacious and righteous Muslim.
7. ‘Judicial martial law’ and ‘judicial imperialism’ have now become part of Pakistan’s public priority.
8. Numerous independent newspapers and research organizations have reported that military is taking all its tolls to influence the upcoming election in Pakistan so that no party win with absolute majority.
9. Pakistan’s military has been undertaking prepoll rigging and electoral engineering to favor part for interest or to create a hung Parliament.