NA, Senate session convened on Nov 5

Ruling party to salvage its electoral reforms agenda with the help of allies Saqib Virk

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government on Wednesday decided to summon sessions of both houses of the parliament on November 5.

The National Assembly is meeting with a heavy agenda, including a motion under which a joint sitting of parliament will be sought for the passage of the controversial Elections (Second Amendment) Bill, 2021, aimed at using electronic voting machines (EVMs) and granting voting rights to overseas Pakistanis.

The bill was earlier passed by the National Assembly but it was not adopted by the Senate within 90 days and thus it lapsed.

“I invite the opposition to play its role in working out the national agenda. We are ready to listen to the opposition openly,” Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan said while talking to the media.

He added the government was willing to listen to the opposition parties on the matter and take them on board in its wide-ranging electoral reforms.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan had taken his government’s coalition partners into confidence on the overall political and economic situation as well as the convening of a joint session of parliament for legislation regarding electoral reforms and other important issues.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry confirmed in his post-cabinet meeting press briefing that the premier had sought the support of the allies for electoral reforms, which included the use of the electronic voting machine (EVM) and giving roughly nine million overseas Pakistani the right to vote in the next general elections.

Apart from the electoral reforms, the government is also looking to bring over two-dozen bills, including the one dealing with Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, in the joint session which will probably take place next week.