Electoral Reforms bill generating heated debate, heading to turning point

Electoral Reforms bill generating heated debate, heading to turning point

LAHORE: Electoral Reforms bill is generating heated debate and can be major turning point in the political scenario of Pakistan.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and PML-N head Shahbaz Sharif had decided to call a multi-party conference to discuss the Election Amendment Bill introduced by the government.

The idea was also backed by JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has rejected the proposal of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) President Shehbaz Sharif for holding the all parties conference (APC) to discuss electoral reforms and said it would tantamount to by bypassing the parliament.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, he said such decisions are made within the parliament. It is becoming part of the agenda to weaken the parliament which is very unfortunate, he added.

He said after failure of the PDM [Pakistan Democratic Movement], Shehbaz had thought of a new story of holding the APC.

The minister wondered as to how these people would attend the APC who had turned their back in the PDM and levelled allegations against each other during by-elections.

 

ECP holds Election Amendment Bill in conflict with Constitution

Earlier, the ECP has also objected to the NA-passed election bill and told the federal government that 13 sections of the National Assembly-approved Election Amendment Bill are in conflict with the Constitution.

Vice President Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Sherry Rehman has said that the Election Commission of Pakistan has raised objections to 45 of the 72 government amendments.

On Thursday, President Dr Arif Alvi said that the final decision regarding the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in elections will be taken by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The president said this while chairing a meeting of the sub-committee on emerging technologies in i-voting.

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