Electoral reforms: Parliamentary panel urges fresh census

Panel on reforms recommends curbing ECP’s power


Irfan Ghauri November 06, 2014

ISLAMABAD:


In a move that could have far-reaching impact on electoral politics in the country, the All Parties Parliamentary Panel on Electoral Reforms has suggested that the government hold a fresh population census without delay. The last population census was taken in 1998.


A subcommittee of the 33-member bipartisan parliamentary panel comprising lawmakers from various political parties met on Wednesday and asked the government to start work on a fresh census “without delay”.

According to the constitution, a census must be conducted every 10 years. The last census was due in 2008. The number of constituencies and seats in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies was increased in 2002 on the basis of the 1998 census.



Several parties have been pressing the government to take a fresh a census. It will not only register an increase in population but also a shift in the demographic make-up of constituencies, they say. This in turn determines the amount and type of resources allocated to provinces. The previous government made an attempt to take a census in 2010. However, it was discontinued after conducting a house listing, a preparatory exercise before the final head count.

The parliamentary committee, led by Finance minister Ishaq Dar, has received over 1,200 proposals regarding amendments to electoral laws from various stakeholders since it began work in August this year. The task of consolidating the proposals was handed to a subcommittee comprising senior lawmakers from various political parties.

The 11-member subcommittee, led by Zahid Hamid of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, also includes senators Aitzaz Ahsan, Raza Rabbani and Farooq H Naek from the Pakistan Peoples Party. It comprises representatives from other mainstream political parties except the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, whose lawmakers have submitted their resignations.

Following an in-camera meeting of the subcommittee, Hamid told journalists that they had asked the government to initiate the population head count. He said it would have a far-reaching impact on electoral politics in the country.

He said that they had recommended curtailing the Election Commission of Pakistan?s (ECP) powers of demarcating constituencies.

Hamid said that the committee had deliberated on principles of delimitations and suggested amendments to certain laws.

Under the proposed amendments, the changes to delimitations of constituencies will be carried out on written applications from stakeholders and will be considered only on “solid grounds”.

Hamid said that allowing the ECP to demarcate constituencies left it open to gerrymandering and subsequently pre-poll rigging.

Citizens who turn 18 and get their Computerised National Identity Cards (CNIC) will be automatically registered as voters, he said.

Another proposed amendment is tasking the secretary of each union council with informing NADRA and the ECP about every death in the union council so they can remove the person’s name from the voters list.

Hamid said that the panel will also review the Political Order 2002 in its next meeting.

Once the parliamentary panel completes its work, it will send its proposals to the parliament for final approval. The proposed changes to the Constitution will require passage by two-thirds majority while those pertaining to ordinary laws will need a simple majority from both houses of the parliament.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2014.

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