ISLAMABAD: A majority of members of the National Assembly (MNAs) do not even know why they have been elected to the house. The MNAs always seem to be more interested in getting funds for the construction of roads and streets in their areas than doing legislation.

This was stated by Mohammad Ibrahim Khan, a member of the Youth Parliament and the electoral reforms committee of the house, while talking to Dawn.

Mr Khan said a report (about electoral reforms) was submitted to the house on Thursday. He said MNAs, civil society representatives, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and the European Union reports were consulted for the preparation of the report. He said during the research work, he even came to know that votes were even sold for a bag of flour. On the other hand, “we learnt that judges don’t interact with the people so they are not suitable for the post of the chief election commissioner (CEC).” However, according to Article 213 of the Constitution, only judges of the high courts or the Supreme Court can be appointed as the CEC.

Mr Khan, a resident of Haripur who is studying law, said India had introduced an amendment to the law and made the election commission powerful. But in Pakistan, legislators are not interested in that sort of issues.

“Parliamentarians are capable and have the capacity to legislate but they have no will. That is why people such as Allama Tahirul Qadri challenge elected governments. I suggest that just like women, who are elected on special seats, PhDs in law should also be nominated for the National Assembly on special seats so that they can give suggestions to amend the law,” he said.

Earlier, Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, the president of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency, told the youth parliamentarians that in India the election commission was very strong and in case of any violation of the rules it took strict action.

“In Pakistan, government servants are attached with the ECP for the election duty and they don’t follow the orders of the commission because they know they would go back to their respective departments. In India, the election commission sends a confidential report about every government officer attached with it which can even stop their promotion,” he said.

Youth Parliament member says lawmakers are interested only in getting funds

“We have a mechanism for the caretaker government just because we don’t have a strong election commission,” he said.

A few years ago, a political party, which was in government in Sindh, resigned just two days before the end of its tenure and became a major opposition party in the province. The party opted to sit in the opposition only because under the law it could get a say in appointing the caretaker government, he said.

“Electronic voting can be introduced but how it will be ensured that the voter used his right to franchise according to his will without any pressure,” he said.

Mr Mehboob said in some countries, such as South Africa, proportional voting system was introduced due to which political parties got votes and then nominated parliamentarians according to their shares.

The report prepared by 12 youth parliamentarians recommended that the appointment of teachers should be made purely on merit so that when appointed as polling staff they would not come under pressure of any politician.

The report also recommended that the polling officers of one district should be appointed in other districts.

Mr Mehboob told Dawn that the Youth Parliament was initiated eight years ago with the idea that the new generation should get information about politics as student unions remained banned in the country.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2015

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