The government and its coalition partners have put forward their nominees for the electoral reforms panel, but the opposition has yet to submit its names. The committee will have 30 members from the National Assembly and the Senate, with parties receiving representation in proportion to their strength in the two houses.
Talking to Dawn, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry confirmed that he had received the names from coalition parties, including the PPP. Declining to disclose the names, the minister said the PPP would have seven members on the committee, while the PML-N would be allocated 10 seats. He added: “The PML-N may have to sacrifice some of its members to accommodate smaller parties.”
The minister said he had requested the chief whip of the main opposition party, PTI, Aamir Dogar, to provide a list of the party’s nominees for the committee, but Mr Dogar had sought some time. The other opposition party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), had also not submitted the names of its proposed members, he said.
Electoral reforms panel: the PTI’s doubts
The PTI had objected to the composition, the minister said, adding that all previous parliamentary committees had been formed on a proportional basis. He hoped the PTI would announce its decision next week.
Dr Chaudhry said the PML-N had shortlisted names, to be submitted to the National Assembly Secretariat after leadership approval. If the opposition boycotted the committee, the coalition leadership would decide the matter.
In a recent post on X, Dr Chaudhry had said the Senate allocation would give two seats each to the PML-N, PPP and PTI, and one seat each to the ANP, Balochistan Awami Party, National Party and JUI-F.
“The final decision on the names of committee members will be made by the leader of the house [the prime minister] and the deputy prime minister after consultations with the opposition, coalition parties and parliamentary leaders,” Dr Chaudhry said.
Earlier this week, the government formally approached its allies to join the proposed Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms (PCER). Feature Pakistan reported on Nov 3 that the government had sought nominations from the PPP and the MQM for their representatives, and the panel took shape the same week as the government approached its allies.
PTI wants voting machines
When contacted, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said the party was serious about electoral reforms but had doubts that the government wanted to ensure PTI’s representation on the committee merely to legitimise the process.
“The government wants to have five opposition members on the committee. With five members, we will not be able to implement our proposals,” he explained.
Mr Waqas said the matter would first go to the party’s political committee and then to its parliamentary and core committees. Meetings of both committees were held a few days ago, he said, but their agenda was limited to one point, Imran Khan’s health.
He said the PTI wanted electronic voting machines and a mechanism to ensure that no one could rig elections. “It was the PTI that introduced electronic voting machines and tried them in Pakistan,” he said.
Mr Waqas said meetings of the parliamentary and core committees would be held within two to three days to decide. “The PTI wants electoral reforms and will become part of any sincere effort to ensure that true representatives of the masses run the country,” he said.
JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghouri said the party had not yet decided on the PCER, and hoped its executive committee would discuss the matter soon.
The Election Commission has taken notice of a code violation ahead of the NA-77 by-poll, where polling is set for Sunday, and the Peshawar High Court has struck off petitions against the provincial emergency. The panel’s first test will be whether the opposition takes its seats.
Frequently asked questions
How many members will the electoral reforms panel have?
The committee will have 30 members from the National Assembly and the Senate, with seats in proportion to each party’s strength.
How many seats will the PPP and PML-N get?
The PPP will have seven members on the committee, while the PML-N will be allocated 10 seats. The PML-N may give up some seats to accommodate smaller parties.
Why has the PTI not submitted its nominees?
The PTI says it doubts the government wants its representation merely to legitimise the process, and it wants electronic voting machines and a mechanism to prevent rigging. It expects to decide within two to three days.
What is the Senate seat allocation?
Two seats each for the PML-N, PPP and PTI, and one seat each for the ANP, Balochistan Awami Party, National Party and JUI-F.
