PTI to press for ‘tangible’ electoral reforms

Party’s panel finalises draft of recommendations to Election Act 2017.


Irfan Ghauri March 08, 2017
Party believes Naeem Bukhari is weakening its case. PHOTO: MUDASSAR RAJA/EXPRESS

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) will press the government and the Election Commission of Pakistan to bring ‘tangible’ reforms in the election system before the next general elections scheduled for 2018.

In this regard the party’s panel on electoral reforms on Tuesday finalised its draft of recommendations, suggesting various amendments in the proposed Election Act, 2017, the government had tabled before parliament in December last year.

According to PTI secretary general Jahangir Tareen, the PTI’s draft will be presented to Imran Khan for a final approval after which the party will press the government and the ECP to incorporate its recommendations in the final laws to be adopted by parliament.

“We will provide our draft to the government after the party chairman’s approval. We will press the ECP for giving the right of franchise to overseas Pakistanis,” he said.

Auditing PTI’s accounts: ‘ECP neither a tribunal nor a court’

PTI’s Dr Arif Alvi, who was made head of a sub-panel on the parliamentary committee on electoral reforms, has already submitted his report to the main committee.



However, he said that there were slim chances that the government would adopt the report of his panel.

The PTI has already hinted at taking to the streets against the ECP.

Tareen on Tuesday seconded his party chief, who told reporters on Monday that his party was considering launching a movement against the ECP in order to force the commission to stay neutral. “We have serious reservations over the appointments of provincial election commissioners. The ECP should give a satisfactory explanation,” Tareen said.

Meanwhile, the tug of war between the PTI and the ECP is intensifying. In reaction to Imran’s threat of campaign against the ECP, the commission has issued a hard-hitting statement against Imran.

“In this connection, it is clarified with strong words that ‘he is one of them, who are supposed to bring legislation for electoral reforms.

“The above statement of Imran Khan depicts a serious ignorance about [the] law-making process, which is lamented and strongly condemned’,” ECP said.

“It is also brought to the kind information of the Member of Parliament (Imran Khan) that legislation is none of the mandate of the ECP.”

Imran threatens street protest against ECP

“Legislation is the exclusive mandate of parliament under the Constitution,” the statement added.

Defending postings and transfers in the ECP, the statement said the commission has devised a prudent HR policy, where all those having established roots in a single place of posting.

“It is also informed that the ECP will never be blackmailed by any vested interests for their ulterior motives and will always play on the front foot,” it added.

Interestingly, the ECP’s statement came a day after it announced to boycott the proceedings of the parliamentary committee after it faced critical remarks from the PTI.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8th, 2017.

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