Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs and Statistics Ishaq Dar on Tuesday presented the second interim report of the Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms (PCER) to the National Assembly.
Presenting the report in the House, the minister said that the main committee had constituted a sub-committee headed by Law Minister Zahid Hamid for the purpose of consolidating 4,000-pages of suggestions by civil society, experts, bar councils and other representatives.
He said that the sub-committee had held 70 meetings and submitted seven progress reports to the main committee. On the basis of its first interim report of the sub-committee, the 22nd constitutional amendment bill regarding the appointment of election commission of Pakistan (ECP) members, including the chief election commissioner, was adopted by the Parliament.
Now, he said, on the basis of the second interim report another proposed amendment had been brought forward for the consideration of the assembly.
“The sub-committee deliberated on nine electoral laws to consolidate them into one law and to frame subsequent election rules. The proposed bill once adopted into act shall be called the Election Act 2017,” Dar said.
The minister said that the main committee held 20 meetings as it discussed the report of the sub-committee on December 20, 2016, and decided to submit the report to the House in the form of a bill.
Dar informed the house that some members had expressed reservations regarding the 10 percent turnout of women voters and it was decided that the matter should be taken up at the next meeting of the PCER.
With reference to a draft of the constitutional amendment bill 2017, he said that the PCER had ruled that it could be finalised by the sub-committee while keeping in view other amendment proposals for constitutional provisions.
The committee comprises 33 members from all parties in the National Assembly and the Senate.
“Copies of the proposed amendment have been provided to the house and representatives of political parties for their feedback,” the minister said.
He said that the electoral rules proposed by the committee had also been sent to the ECP for its input, which is expected within 30 days.
He said that the finalisation of this report and the proposed bill once made an act through legislation would prove to be a huge step towards revamping the electoral process and ensuring electoral transparency in the future.