Parliamentary committee to start work on electoral reforms

ISLAMABAD - Since the Imran Khan-led PTI wants fresh polls without any delay, the Parliamentary parties would start work on electoral reforms soon after Eid-ul fitr. The Parliamentary opposition parties have decided to share names for the parliamentary committee on electoral reforms soon after Eid-ul-Fitr so that they could evaluate the shortcomings of previous elections and make recommendations for electoral reforms to ensure that elections are held in a free, fair and transparent manner. The parliamentary committee may also discuss the possibilities of fresh polls in the country. The main purpose of the parliamentary body is to review the legislation on Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) and the right of vote to the overseas Pakistanis, background discussions with the senior parliamentarians revealed. With the resignations of most of PTI’s MNAs from the National Assembly, the coalition government has its enough majority in the parliament to easily pass any legislative business with consultation. It may also be noted here that PTI chief Imran Khan yesterday had given call for long march by the end of May. Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf other day [ Friday] had written letters to all the parliamentary leaders in National Assembly to forward nominations from their respective parties for the Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms. The Speaker has asked the parliamentary leaders to forward their nominations within seven days of issuance of this letter. The Speaker wrote that National Assembly in its sitting held on 16th April, 2022 a motion under rule 244(B) of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly 2007 was adopted to constitute a Parliamentary Committee to evaluate shortcomings of previous elections and to make recommendations for electoral reforms to ensure that elections are held in free, fair and transparent manner. The letters have been sent to Imran khan (PTI), Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui (MQMP), Mr. Asad Mehmood (MMAP), Khawaja Muhammad Asif (PMLN), Mr. Muhammad Akthar Mengal (BNPM), Mr. Amir Haider Azam Hoti (ANP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (PPPP), Ghaus Bux khan Maher (GDA), Nawabzada Shahzain Bughti (JWP), Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad (AMLP), Chaudhry Tariq Bashir Cheema (PML), Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Hussain Qureshi (PTI) and Khalid Hussain Magsi (BAP).