ISLAMABAD: The sub-committee of the parliamentary panel on electoral reforms will be meeting here on Wednesday (tomorrow) to discuss proposals about change in the mechanism for Senate elections.

The sub-committee, headed by former minister Zahid Hamid, will be having a discussion on the Senate (Elections) Act 1975 with the tabulated proposals, according to the agenda of the meeting.

There have been demands for direct election for Senate from various political parties to avoid complications and reduce chances of malpractices in the process.

Also read: PTI returns to electoral reform panel

At present, members of provincial assemblies elect their representatives for Senate through a complicated process in which they are required to give preferences to candidates of their choice.

The Senate elections held recently became controversial when the government, through a presidential order, changed the mode of election for Fata members at the eleventh hour and introduced one-member, one-vote system. The government claimed that it had taken the step after getting reports about use of money for sale and purchase of votes.

The PML-N also tried to develop consensus among political parties to introduce voting through open ballots, but it failed to do so as majority of the parties termed the move too late and said the rules of the polls could not be changed after announcement of the schedule.

The Fata MNAs boycotted elections and challenged the presidential order in a court of law. Later, due to criticism from almost all the political parties, the government withdrew the order and restored the old method.

Under the rules, 12 MNAs from Fata elect four members of Senate through secret ballot after every three years. Due to limited number of eligible voters, it is always easy for the candidates to influence and approach the voters. During every election, the media reports highlight the use of money in the polls, particularly on the seats reserved for Fata members.

Talking to Dawn, Dr Arif Alvi of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) said his party would definitely push for the proposal of direct elections of Senate on the pattern of general elections of the National Assembly. However, he said, if the proposal of the direct election did not receive acceptance from a majority of the members, then the party had prepared an alternative mechanism which they would present before the committee.

The main purpose of this exercise, he said, was to make the election process transparent and non-controversial. Moreover, he said, the election system required to be changed to end the culture of sale and purchase of votes. And this, he said, could only be done through introduction of an open ballot system.

He said as the constitution did not allow any member of the parliament to cast his or her vote against the party line in the elections of the prime minister, speaker and deputy speaker and during the voting on any amendment bill, there should be a similar bar on them for Senate elections.

Sources said that Jamaat-i-Islami has also submitted its proposal regarding change in the Senate election mechanism and the party’s parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Tariqullah would make a presentation before the sub-committee.

The main committee headed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had decided to constitute the sub-committee to review and shortlist the proposals submitted by various parties for revamping the electoral system through administrative measures and legislation, including constitution amendment, if required.

This will be the 15th meeting of the sub-committee which is also looking into legal and constitutional matters pertaining to the working of the Election Commission of Pakistan and is busy preparing recommendations for making the commission more powerful.

The sub-committee has already completed a review of the Representation of People’s Act 1976.

The sub-committee has already received briefings from officials of various institutions, including the ECP and National Database and Reg­istration Authority, besides reviewing various laws related to elections.

The Special Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms was formed by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on July 25 last year with the task of making recommendations for holding the future elections in a free, fair and transparent manner.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2015

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