Senate passes motion to form parliamentary committee on electoral reforms

ISLAMABAD: The Senate has passed, by majority vote, a motion to form a parliamentary committee on electoral reforms.

The motion was moved on Thursday in the upper house by Minister of State for Law Barrister Aqeel Malik. After its approval, the Senate Chairman has been given the power to nominate the members of the committee.

Stress on implementing electoral reforms

During the session, several leaders stressed the need for effective implementation of the reforms, along with their preparation.

Taking part in the debate, Barrister Ali Zafar said he could draw up electoral reforms in an hour. However, he said, the real issue was not putting the reforms on paper but ensuring their implementation.

He suggested that an effective committee or mechanism be set up to monitor the implementation of electoral reforms, so that the reforms do not remain limited to documents but are also enforced in practice.

Opposition and PTI invited to talks

Barrister Aqeel Malik said the Prime Minister had invited the opposition to talks several times, but the opposition was neither willing to hold talks nor seen taking part in the standing committees.

Inviting the opposition to talks, he said all sides should sit down and talk, as this was the way to find solutions to problems.

Barrister Aqeel Malik urged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to become part of the parliamentary committee to be formed for electoral reforms, so that meaningful reforms could be made through consultation.

With the Senate’s approval of the motion, the way has been cleared to move ahead with forming the parliamentary committee on electoral reforms. During the debate, a proposal was also made to give effective implementation of the reforms primary importance.