Electoral reform: Proposals sought to simplify Articles 62, 63

Parliamentary panel seeks recommendations from political parties

ISLAMABAD:

The parliamentary panel working on reforming electoral system of the country has asked the political parties to submit their recommendations on two contentious Articles in the Constitution that are related to qualification of a person to contest elections.

The sub-committee on the electoral reforms on Wednesday discussed Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution. “The committee has asked the representatives of the political parties in the committee to come up with their recommendations to simplify Articles 62 and 63,” Zahid Hamid, who heads the committee, told reporters after in-camera meeting of the panel.

He said political groups have been asked to submit their proposals in this regard by next Wednesday when the panel will resume its meeting.



Sub-panel is vetting the recommendations of all the stakeholders given to bipartisan parliamentary committee on electoral reforms constituted last year to bring reforms in the election system of the country.

The suggestions of the sub-panel will be compiled as draft legislative package comprising changes in the prevailing election laws and constitutional provisions related to elections to be presented to parliament.

Article 62 stipulates conditions that a person should fulfil to be eligible to contest elections for national, provincial assemblies and Senate. Article 63 elaborates conditions under which a person is disqualified. Amendments in these Articles over the years especially during the military rule of Gen Ziaul Haq inculcated many ambiguous terms in these two Articles.

The amended Articles focused on ambiguous religious injunctions without elaborating them, shifting focus of scrutiny of nomination papers to arbitrary interpretation of Islamic injunctions instead of any tangible scrutiny.

Hamid said the parliamentary panel has also sought recommendations of political parties on the issue of allowing dual nationality holders to contest elections.

It has also asked parliamentarians from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) to give their final input on proposals for holding election for Fata senators transparent.

The two proposals which are under discussion include holding of direct elections where people of Fata vote for their senators or make a council like Gilgit-Baltistan Council that may elect senators from these areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2015.