Pakistan Peoples Party Formally Invites Opposition to Join Parliamentary Electoral Reforms Committee; PTI Leaders Confirm Final Decision Will Be Made After Internal Consultations
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has officially invited the opposition to join the reform parliamentary committee and offer its plans in the committee established under the leadership of the elected parliamentarians.
A high-level PPP delegation met the Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri, the National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Barrister Ali Zafar to urge them to join the Committee and place their recommendations for reform.
PPP’s Invitation and Parliamentary Consultations were highlighted by the following key elements:
PPP’s Stance on Transparency: PPP leader Sherry Rehman said that opposition parties must put their recommendations forth on the committee, explaining that issues and doubts repeatedly cropped up in the electoral process are a major drain on the credibility of parliament. Transparent, free and fair elections are essential to voter confidence and to reinforce democratic institutions, she repeated, adding that this was the same opinion of Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.
PTI’s Response on Participation: In a meeting with the journalists, PTI Senator Ali Zafar confirmed that he had been given the formal invitation to join the electoral reforms committee. He added that the government delegation had been in touch for the past two days and a clear decision on participation will be taken after thorough discussions with party leaders and concerned parliamentary committees.
The structure and composition of the committee was announced by Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, who said the National Assembly has approved the committee and the Speaker will issue a formal notification soon. The 30 member committee will be made up of 20 National Assembly members and 10 Senators, based on the proportional party representation. Dr Chaudhry emphasized that the project was meant to create consensus nationally and move beyond partisan interests towards strengthening democracy.