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ISLAMABAD, (MANEND NEWS): The government has prepared an
electoral reforms agenda to ensure transparency and fairness in the
election process.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhary Fawad Hussain
and Adviser to PM on Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Zaheeruddin Babar
Awan shared details of the reforms agenda at a news conference in
Islamabad on Monday.
Babar Awan said the reforms agenda envisages a series of
amendments to the constitution and the Election Act 2017. He said
reforms agenda will be put forth before the stakeholders including the
civil society, the media and bar councils and associations for their
inputs.
Under the reforms package, the Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs said
section 103 is being amended to allow the use of electronic voting
machines to check rigging in the elections. He said section 94 will be
amended to give the right of franchise to the overseas Pakistanis.
The Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs stressed that there should also be
democracy within the political parties. Therefore, it has been decided
to bring an amendment in section 202 under which the political parties
having representation of ten thousand members will be able to get
themselves registered. A new section of 213A is also being introduced
making it compulsory on the political parties to hold their annual
conventions. An amendment in section 15 will provide an opportunity
to the candidates to challenge the polling staff.
Babar Awan said it is also being proposed that the electoral rolls be
prepared on the basis of registration data available with the NADRA.
He said we also want the delimitation of constituencies on the basis of
registered voters.
The Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs said two constitutional
amendments will also be brought with the aim to ensure open ballot in
the Senate and allow the overseas Pakistanis to contest the elections.
Babar Awan said that our reforms agenda also envisages the proposal
of further empowering the Election Commission of Pakistan. Babar
Awan said that there was nothing in the amendments that were in
favour or against any political party.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhary Fawad Hussain
said the government wants to get the reforms agenda passed from the
parliament through consensus. He said if the opposition parties are not
ready for the reforms, it will impede the process of political and
democratic development.
The Information Minister said it is the vision of Prime Minister Imran
Khan that the political parties sit together to carry out the electoral
reforms. He said the reforms will enhance the confidence of the
people, political parties and intelligentsia on the election process. He
defended the use of electronic voting machines in the election saying it
will ensure early results.
Chaudhary Fawad Hussain once again reiterated the government’s
offer to the position parties to sit for electoral reforms saying that
those opposing electronic voting machines (EVMs) have never
witnessed their working.
The information minister said that they wanted to bring EVMs so that
the results are not delayed for 12 or more hours. “We want the results
to be received 20 minutes after the election process,” he said.
Chaudhary Fawad Hussain said that even the prime minister himself
has asked the opposition to sit for electoral reforms after the latter
objected as to why they were not invited for the talks directly by
Imran Khan.
Come and sit for electoral reforms, he said adding that they have
invited them for reforms and now it would emerge as to who is against
it. “Lack of electoral reforms would halt the process of political and
democratic progress in the country,” he said.