As Pakistan is making frantic efforts to curb extremists’ influence in national life and politics, over 500 candidates backed by the banned outfits have made their way into Punjab’s local governance system, official sources told The Nation yesterday.The victory of a quarter of the total 2,000 new faces fielded by proscribed organisations in the first phase of local bodies’ polls in Punjab is a major success on their part.But it is alarming for the country which, more than anything else, needs de-radicalisation of society for perpetual peace. The banned outfits through their undeclared candidates have established their strong footprints in Vehari, Lodhran, Chakwal, Faisalabad, Bhakkar and Bahawalnagar. To top it off they do have assured political presence in the remaining six districts too. With each subsequent election, the flaws of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) are highlighted. This time it is clear that the election authority has no system to check the background details of any candidate and simply verifies the candidates’ credentials through the information provided on the nomination papers. The ECP must be empowered to run background checks in cooperation with security agencies to assure the candidates viability for office.There is a pressing need for determined efforts for de-radicalisation programmes as the military action needs supplementing steps to educate the general masses not to idealise and follow the extremist tendencies. Where the state fails to provide adequate facilities to the people, these extremist organization fill the gaps and provide the people with basic amenities and the people hence are grateful for that support.
pk.shafaqna.com
