Electoral reform: PPP adopts a cautious approach
The party has maintained some distance from PTI and is carefully watching the developments.
The party has maintained some distance from PTI and is carefully watching the developments. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is keeping a safe distance from Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) full scale political assault against Nawaz Sharif’s government – which was first launched in the guise of a campaign against alleged rigging in last year’s election. The party says it has reasons to hedge its bets.
The PTI is seemingly at war with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and has made an effort to congregate opposition groups under the banner of electoral reforms.
The party is also holding rallies across the country over the issue and has also demanded that members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) voluntarily step down as they have failed to hold free and fair elections in the country.
But the move, which may be gaining some momentum at public rallies, is fading on the other front with the PPP maintaining some distance and carefully watching the developments.
“The PPP will not be a part of anything that is merely for political publicity,” said PPP lawmaker Shazia Mari while talking to The Express Tribune on Sunday. She said the PPP would be very careful in becoming part of any kind of political move. “We are very clear in our mind that anything which we do or say should be in favour of the system,” she added.
She said an atmosphere was being created in which, instead of strengthening the political system, an attitude of challenging the system was being encouraged.
Mari said the PPP was a mature political party, which had learnt a lot from its political experiences and which was going to use its experiences.
Quoting the process of 18th constitutional amendment, she referred to her party’s rule during the last five years and said the parliamentary committee had around 30 members from all political parties.
“Our attitude was to include representatives from every political party instead of taking credit for the achievement,” she added. Marri, however, said the party had always been in favour of improving the system and was ready to participate and play its due role in any serious move.
Responding to a question regarding nomination of the PPP members in an electoral reforms committee, proposed by the PTI, Marri said the PPP would announce its members soon.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah on May 14 had agreed to appoint members for the committee.
The PTI is patiently waiting for the announcement and is also exploring other options to carry forward its plan for electoral reforms.
The PTI’s Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi had been assigned the task to reach out to opposition groups. Qureshi told The Express Tribune that the PPP had not yet nominated its members for the committee.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2014.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is keeping a safe distance from Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) full scale political assault against Nawaz Sharif’s government – which was first launched in the guise of a campaign against alleged rigging in last year’s election. The party says it has reasons to hedge its bets.
The PTI is seemingly at war with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and has made an effort to congregate opposition groups under the banner of electoral reforms.
The party is also holding rallies across the country over the issue and has also demanded that members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) voluntarily step down as they have failed to hold free and fair elections in the country.
But the move, which may be gaining some momentum at public rallies, is fading on the other front with the PPP maintaining some distance and carefully watching the developments.
“The PPP will not be a part of anything that is merely for political publicity,” said PPP lawmaker Shazia Mari while talking to The Express Tribune on Sunday. She said the PPP would be very careful in becoming part of any kind of political move. “We are very clear in our mind that anything which we do or say should be in favour of the system,” she added.
She said an atmosphere was being created in which, instead of strengthening the political system, an attitude of challenging the system was being encouraged.
Mari said the PPP was a mature political party, which had learnt a lot from its political experiences and which was going to use its experiences.
Quoting the process of 18th constitutional amendment, she referred to her party’s rule during the last five years and said the parliamentary committee had around 30 members from all political parties.
“Our attitude was to include representatives from every political party instead of taking credit for the achievement,” she added. Marri, however, said the party had always been in favour of improving the system and was ready to participate and play its due role in any serious move.
Responding to a question regarding nomination of the PPP members in an electoral reforms committee, proposed by the PTI, Marri said the PPP would announce its members soon.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah on May 14 had agreed to appoint members for the committee.
The PTI is patiently waiting for the announcement and is also exploring other options to carry forward its plan for electoral reforms.
The PTI’s Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi had been assigned the task to reach out to opposition groups. Qureshi told The Express Tribune that the PPP had not yet nominated its members for the committee.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2014.