PPP asks opposition to join electoral reforms committee, awaits reply after consultation

ISLAMABAD: The PPP stepped up efforts on Friday to secure opposition participation in the proposed parliamentary committee on electoral reforms. A party delegation met Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and invited him to join the committee.

The delegation included Secretary General Nayyar Bokhari, Senator Waqar Mehdi, Nadeem Afzal Chan and Senator Sherry Rehman. According to Ms Rehman, Raja Nasir Abbas received the delegation warmly and thanked Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for the initiative. He said he would reply after consultation. She expressed hope that the reply would be positive.

In a video statement, Sherry Rehman said every political party should ensure its participation in the committee. She said the PTI had been boycotting parliamentary committees, so it had been asked to play an active role in this one, put forward its concerns and propose reforms.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly approved the formation of a 30-member parliamentary committee to oversee electoral reforms. The committee will have 20 members from the National Assembly and 10 from the Senate.

Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the Speaker would issue the formal notification soon, while the process of finalising the members’ names was under way. Seats will be given to parliamentary parties in proportion to their numerical strength in the houses. He said the PTI had not opposed the motion when it was moved in the House.

The minister said the committee’s purpose was to promote consultation and consensus to further strengthen transparency, public trust and democratic values in the electoral system. He said the government would consider constructive and practical proposals from all parties, including the opposition. He described electoral reforms as a shared national responsibility, not that of any one party.