Political leaders and analysts have described formation of Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms as a step in the right direction.
Speaking in a Radio Pakistan programme, political leaders and analysts expressed confidence that the committee would succeed in removing drawbacks of the electoral system through parliamentary mechanism and obviate the need to take up the issue on streets.
Former National Assembly deputy speaker and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Faisal Karim Kundi said it augurs well to find solutions to the problems through collective will.
“We have to learn from mistakes and have faith in the political and democratic system,” he said.
IT’S OK TO PROTEST BUT PTI’S MARCH IS ILL-TIMED:
Replying to a question, he said it is the democratic right of individuals and political parties to hold peaceful demonstrations and organise marches over their grievances.
But he pointed out that the timing of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s long march is not appropriate as the party is agitating the issue on the country’s Independence Day.
He said at a time when war against terrorism is continuing and the country is faced with the challenge of handling increasing number of internally displaced persons (IDPs), the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government should concentrate their efforts and energies on mitigating the IDPs’ sufferings.
Kundi appreciated ruling party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)’s decision to part with three seats in the Parliamentary Committee to accommodate minority parties.
He expressed the hope that all political parties would come prepared to participate in the deliberations of the committee and take decisions with consensus as was done in the past on the occasion of passage of the 18th Constitutional Amendment.
‘RIGGING’ IN NA-I:
Awami National Party (ANP) leader Ilyas Bilour said that the formation of the parliamentary committee shows progress.
He said an issue is agitated only if there is no progress and after the formation of the committee there is no justification to agitate on roads.
He said PTI Chairman Imran Khan is talking about rigging but “forgets about rigging in NA-I Peshawar”.
He said the PTI leader got a lead of 70,000 votes in General Elections 2013 from the NA-I but the party’s candidate lost the election in by-elections held just two and a half months later.
He said there is need for electoral reforms, especially introduction of electronic voting to eliminate chances of bogus casting of votes.
STOP STREET PROTESTS; GIVE PROPOSALS FOR VOTE REFORMS:
Senator Daud Khan Achakzai said parties having no representation in the Parliament can protest against matters on the streets but those in the Parliament should raise their arguments on the floor of the two houses.
He said if there are flaws in the electoral system then the parties should come out with their proposals in the Parliamentary Committee for discussion and adoption.
He said the judicial process for disposal of appeals against electoral objections is slow and the Committee should also look into this issue.
Prominent analyst Rasul Bux Rais appreciated the formation of the Parliamentary Committee at the initiative of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
He said the committee has representation from all parliamentary parties and it would be able to present its reports in the stipulated time frame of three months.
To a question, he said the issues of conflict of interest can be resolved only through dialogue.