LAHORE: The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) has proposed comprehensive electoral reforms to pave way for impartial and transparent elections that could help establish a strong democratic system in the country.

Acting JI emir Liaqat Baloch, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said the proposals included full administrative and financial autonomy for the Election Commission on the pattern of the Supreme Court, the scrutiny of the candidates in the light of articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution and the election of 50pc seats on the basis of proportionate representation.

The ECP staff should be appointed on a permanent basis. Political parties must be directed to hold internal elections in the supervision of the ECP discouraging the control of a single family on the party.

He said a mechanism should be devised to control the election spending by the candidates and the parties and those indulging in overspending be declared ineligible for election. Political parties should be made to restrict their spending on publicity within the prescribed limits.

Switching over to the proportionate representation system would help minimise election spending and also reduce the clout of the individual candidates and develop a tendency to vote for a manifesto.

The JI also suggested that polling stations for women be within one kilometre of their homes and transport arrangements should be made for female voters and female election staff be posted at the ladies polling stations.

GUJRAT: Mr Baloch has hinted at an electoral alliance of religious parties for which he said formal talks will start after Eidul Fitr.

He told Dawn if religious parties joined hands, their votes count would be two million in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone.

He said the opposition parties were agreed on gearing up campaign for the electoral reforms ahead of the next elections to avoid the rigged polls in future.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2017