Tug of war: ECP boycotts elections reforms panel

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Monday announced it would boycott proceedings of parliamentary committee on electoral reforms after it faced critical remarks from the PTI in the committee’s last meeting.

PTI MNA Shireen Mazari during the meeting of sub-committee on electoral reforms questioned the ECP’s neutrality and its capacity to hold fair elections. Her criticism prompted ECP officials to walk out of the meeting. Later, another PTI Senator filed a privilege motion against the conduct of ECP officials in the Senate secretariat.

The ECP held a meeting in its headquarters to discuss the development and issued a statement, saying that it has conveyed to the National Assembly speaker that it would not be taking part in the meetings of parliamentary committee on electoral reforms.

It claimed that at the time of formation of the parliamentary panel, it was decided that all its proceedings would be in-camera. It demanded the speaker take action against the members who breached this agreed upon code of conduct.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 7^th, 2017.