Chair disallows Senate debate of ECP report

He alleged that opposition desired all good outcomes, would reject anything bitter or unacceptable to them

ISLAMABAD:

The Senate on Friday witnessed the presentation of annual report 2023 of the Election Commission of Pakistan amid opposition demand for a debate on the controversies surrounding the general elections.

Over­emphasis on security, mismanagement on part of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the eleventh-hour 'unilateral' decision of the caretaker government to shut down mobile phone services not only caused delay in the announcement of the election results, but also refreshed the memories of the 2018 RTS controversy, thus making the fairness of the elections doubtful for many.

Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Shibli Faraz demanded the chair to call for a debate on the Election Commission's annual report. "We will debate and lay a corresponding instrument on the report."

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, while responding to the demand, said the opposition has its concerns on the elections and it used to be all over the world. "There is no court left across the country where the opposition has not filed its petitions on 2024 elections and the matter is subjudice," he said.

He alleged that the opposition desired all good outcomes and would reject anything which was bitter or unacceptable to them.

Presiding Officer of the Senate, Senator Irfan Siddiqui said that the report was comprehensive and elaborate whereas the opposition must take its time to read and deliberate. However the chair will take the sense of the house in this regard next week to hold a debate on the report, he added.

Meanwhile, the upper house of parliament adopted two motions granting extension to two standing committees for presentation of reports and also witnessed laying of five reports.

On behalf of Chairman, Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, Senator Rana Mahmood Ul Hassan, Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti move a motion under sub-rule (1) of Rule 194 seeking a 60-day extension for the presentation of report of the Committee on the Pakistan Integrity in Public Life Bill, 2024, introduced by Senator Sania Nishtar on 4th March, 2024.