Pakistan

PM tells aides to prepare vote reforms agenda

The prime minister has already empowered the reforms panel to go for a new constitutional amendment, if necessary

Zahid Gishkori July 27, 2015

PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: Days after the Judicial Inquiry Commission certified that the 2013 general elections were largely fair, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed his top aides to draw up comprehensive recommendations for electoral reforms.

The PML-N team comprises cabinet ministers who will assist the parliamentary committee on electoral reforms to finalise its draft which will be tabled in the shape of legislation before parliament within the next two months.

“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has asked Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to finalise electoral reforms agenda at the earliest,” Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal told The Express Tribune on Sunday.

According to a cabinet member, federal ministers including Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, Science and Technology Minister Anusha Rehman, State Minister for Interior Baleeghur Rehman and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sheikh Aftab have been given the task of executing the plan.

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“The prime minister has already empowered the reforms panel to go for a new constitutional amendment, if necessary, for establishing a better electoral system,” he added.

Senator Tahir Mashhadi of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement said the parliamentary reforms committee is scheduled to meet tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Parliament House to give the finishing touches to its recommendations.

“We are giving the finishing touches to our recommendations. We only wait for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to come in and give their valuable input on electoral reforms,” said Mashhadi, who is a key member of electoral reforms panel.

According to him, members of the committee have already studied the electoral laws of India and other developed democracies for drawing fruitful input. “The reforms committee has already prepared its recommendations in particular about notes, shortcomings, loopholes and errors pointed out by the inquiry commission in its findings,” he added.

The National Assembly is also likely to take up this issue today (Monday) and will link it with findings of the inquiry commission’s report, said lawmakers across the party lines.

Ahsan Iqbal thinks the report’s findings can be debated in parliament. “There is no harm in debating the report in parliament because it had passed a unanimous resolution against ‘dharnas’,” he said.

Pakistan Peoples Party’s Senator Farhatullah Babar said: “We now need to move on. The first and foremost thing for parliamentary committee is to prepare its consensus recommendations for electoral reforms and then for parliament to do legislation.”

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He said the inquiry commission’s report should be debated in the parliament as an academic exercise to illuminate the path that lies ahead.

When contacted the PTI MNA Dr Arif Alvi said he was going to attend the session. “Findings of the commission must be discussed in parliament particularly with focus on electoral reforms,” he said.

Already PTI chief Imran Khan has announced that his party’s lawmakers would participate in parliamentary proceedings to strengthen the democratic process.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2015.

COMMENTS (14)

Shakil | 9 years ago | Reply Why reform? when elections were free and fair! keep rigging and enjoy!

S.R.H. Hashmi | 9 years ago | Reply Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s top aides tasked with drawing up comprehensive electoral reforms and the parliamentary committee dealing with the same subject should consider the following points, if these were not already part of their agenda: 1) -With the help of the superior judiciary, arrange to get clear interpretation of articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution which deal with the eligibility of the assembly aspirants, and get these developed in a checklist form for easy and unbiased application by personnel deputed to check the eligibility of the candidates for the assembly seats, as well as for other elections like those of local governments etc. In short, it should be ensured that the corrupt elements are not allowed to re-enter the assemblies by taking advantage of the weaknesses that exist in the vetting process presently. 2) - Do away with the provision that requires senior election officers to be picked up from among retired judges. This restriction creates an unfortunate situation where aged persons are entrusted with the duty of completing a very strenuous exercise within a short time span which may well be beyond their capacity because of age. 3) Find some way to prevent political parties from becoming private properties, passing from person to person through family relations. At least ensure that the persons who, because of dubious conduct, are ineligible to stand as candidates for parliamentary elections are not allowed to hold official positions in political parties. 4) It is also important to hold the already overdue population census, without further delay and in time to enable chalking out of the constituencies for the next elections on the basis of the latest population figures. This is particularly important in case of Sindh where there is clear urban-rural divide. The constituencies for 2013 elections were worked out based on 1998 population census, and as a result, urban Sindh, especially Karachi ended up with far fewer seats as compared to what it would have got had the accelerated migration to Karachi from interior Sindh as well as from the rest of thecountry in the intervening fifteen years was taken into account. Short of creation of Karachi province, this measure could be the second best as it would partly address the grievances of Karachiites of not having due share in the financial resources of the province as well as an effective control in running the city. And by Karachiites, I mean the Urdu-speaking people who are in majority, as well as Sindhis, Pakhthuns, Punjabis, Balochs and others who have made Karachi their homes and are directly affected by how the city is run. 5) The hacking down of Local Government Acts by Punjab and Sindh governments should be reversed and the city governments not only restored to the status that Pervez Musharraf’s government had given, but improved further by giving them additional financial resources and powers, bringing also the police department under their control. This measure could be the second best to the creation of additional provinces in Punjab, Sindh and elsewhere in the country. Some people may consider Points 4 and 5 not to be directly related to electoral reforms but these will definitely make the election process meaningful and truly in line with aspirations of the masses. Karachi

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Khurram | 9 years ago | Reply This is utter incompetence, he wasted first year trying to escape electoral reforms and now he wants them from his Finance Minister (another crony). This man and his team are not sincere to Pakistan.

Tahir | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan should adopt transparent electronic voting and online voting for overseas Pakistanis.There is even no much voice from Imran khan and PTI on this issue. if India can adopt this system years ago why can not we do it. Voters should be allowed to vote in polling station of their choice rather than travelling to their native areas and causing billions of loss for the nation as millions travel to vote.

Aam Admi Bechara | 9 years ago | Reply @Shuaib: So around 80 billion were available to build metors but no funds even no funds for small dams Wow how shameless can sharifs and their sycophants can be

someone | 9 years ago | Reply Nawaz is surely taking country to civil war.

Qasim Cheema | 9 years ago | Reply So the Finance Minister is heading the electoral reform? I think Dar sb should focus on the economy...

Saud | 9 years ago | Reply Imran Khan should have the moral courage to attend the parliament session himself instead of sending other party members to face the criticism.

Parvez | 9 years ago | Reply .......and now he will tighten the noose. Democracy when played by the rules is a good system it benefits the people........when played Pakistani style it benefits only the few.

kemal | 9 years ago | Reply We overseas pakistanis 're not happy with the JC verdict by enlarge!! From now on we are going follow each n every step!! And would make it sure that people of Pakistan mandate will never or ever be stolen by ROs or by other wested interst elements, their rightful votes must not be manuplated ever again,....................long live Pakistan.

Shuaib | 9 years ago | Reply @Rocker: Well he wasn't PM for the last 13 years and I have personally spoken to PMLN MNAs who told me that funds were not available to build all the dams needed to stop the annual floods. If there were why hasn't PTI done it in KPK? Oh right, PTI is above criticism that's why.

Rocker | 9 years ago | Reply For those praising Nawaz for not having ego issues.thousands of incidents (APS, Safoora, Floods) happened in his tenure - no speeches, avoided media. This foolish chap only came out of his cacoon when JC's verdict slightly titled in his favour. Also, these electoral reforms are no favor that he is doing - it took two continuous years of ranting and street protests for these reforms to happen. If he doesnt do it now what choice does he have. PTI will again be on streets and he will be in hot waters again. All happens for his premiership to be protected

excalibur | 9 years ago | Reply The Enquiry Commission has failed to honestly discharge its responsibility. Instead of the mandated Inquisitorial Enquiry it deliberately resorted to Adversorial Enquiry and disappointed the nation yet again Elections were bogus and the Parliament has no moral or legal legitimacy/ Period

Ali | 9 years ago | Reply Atleast Nawaz Sharif does not have ego issue like Imran Khan. He is not rubbing the defeat in PTI's face and wants to go ahead with electoral reforms despite defeating his opponents outright just a week ago.

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