Editorial
EC should pursue the matter till the end
Move to verify affidavits of newly elected mayors and councillors welcome
THE EC's move to have tax, wealth and police records of the winners at the city corporation and municipality polls probed by the NBR and the police department for their veracity is a move we support. Set against the backdrop of a universal public demand for a break with the past in terms of having public representatives with clean records and reported apprehensions that persons with dubious distinctions might have crept back into reckoning, this measure by the EC should be helpful in clearing the air of any misgiving. In fact, this step will strengthen newly elected leaders to carry out their task, assuming that they come clean.
The fact that a candidature based on wrongful statement, if any, was not screened out prior to election, does not preclude action on the part of the EC against the person concerned even after the election. The electoral law actually provides for cancellation of candidature of an elected representative to the city corporation or the municipality if he/she is found guilty of submitting false information or concealing facts before the EC. The cancellation of candidature automatically leads to nullification of his/her election to the post even after taking oath of office.
This is for the first time in the country's history that financial statements and police records of people's representatives are being audited by the NBR and the police with the live prospect for taking action against misdeeds. In the past, inquest would only be attempted to be made against public representatives of a fallen government by a victorious one by way of exacting vendetta and vice versa that neither served the purpose of law nor of a transparent system. No wonder, honest leaders have been in short supply.
That being elected makes one a holy cow, puts one beyond reach and elevates one to immunity from legal processes is a myth that needed to be exploded. We are glad that this is being done. The mayor and councillor elect for their part should themselves welcome the filtration process whereby their statements will be verified and the genuine ones will stand vindicated in the public eye. They will then be able to pack power and credibility into their actions as local leaders.
We would, however, expect the investigations to be completely impartial, unbiased and expeditiously conducted so that it is positively result-oriented serving the ends of transparency and justice. The EC, for its part, should pursue it to its logical conclusion.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments