Panel hard at work: Electoral reforms package to be out in weeks, says Dar

Ishaq says progress has been made on five key issues

ISLAMABAD:

Chairman Parliamentary Electoral Reform Committee Senator Ishaq Dar on Wednesday vowed that the panel will present its package on reforming the country’s electoral system within the next six to eight weeks. 

During the meeting, a sub-committee of the 33-member bipartisan parliamentary body briefed the finance minister and members of the panel on progress related to electoral reforms.



Headed by Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid, the sub-committee is vetting recommendations received by the parliamentary panel from various quarters to revamp the outdated electoral system in the country, which has been marred by allegations of vote fraud.

Talking to reporters after the meeting at the Parliament House, Dar said that progress had been made on five issues, including amendments in laws related to delimitations, electoral rolls, allotment of symbols to political parties and empowering the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).  He said the sub-committee will submit its proposals on the reform process within the next six to eight weeks.



According to the procedure, once the sub-committee completes its review, it will send its proposals to parliament for final approval.

Constituted in August this year, the 33-member parliamentary panel, headed by Dar was tasked to evaluate the shortcomings of the electoral system and make necessary recommendations within three months to ensure that the process is transparent and credible.

Over 1,200 recommendations were put forward by various stakeholders to the parliamentary panel on electoral reforms. Subsequently, Dar formed a sub-committee comprising senior lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to deliberate and vet proposals for a comprehensive reforms package.

During Wednesday’s meeting Dar also approved the suggestion of inclusion of additional members to the sub-committee.  The panel also debated the issue of using electronic voter machines (EVM) during the next elections.

The finance minister also directed ECP to finalize its proposal on deploying EVMs in polls scheduled for 2018 to ensure that the process is free and fair.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 20^th, 2014.