• Party claims it wants transparent polls, but insiders say it fears PTI ‘will resort to rigging’
uncertain
PTI → claim → rigging
• Govt says electoral restructuring was its own initiative
THE PPP has stepped up its efforts for electoral reforms in the country, raising several questions: is the party anticipating early general elections, a drastic change in the system, or is it seeking timely reforms to avert potential rigging in the next polls?
asserted
it → say → polls
On the other hand, the government claims that the initiative was its own rather than the PPP’s, aiming to bring all parties, including the opposition, to the table to reach a consensus on how to prevent rigging in general elections.
It also believes that if the opposition joins the proposed Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms, it will pave the way for dialogue between the government and the opposition on other key issues, including the long-awaited appointment of a new chief election commissioner (CEC).
uncertain
it → claim → commissioner
Background conversations with PPP leaders revealed that the party feared that the main opposition PTI could turn the tables at any time in the next elections with the help of Form-47 “manipulation” (a mechanism of pre-poll rigging of which the PTI itself claims to be a victim).
uncertain
PTI → reveal → which
In the recent past, PPP delegations have met the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Mehmood Achakzai, and the leader of the opposition in the Senate, Raja Nasir Abbas, urging them to sit down with the government to discuss the much-needed electoral reforms.
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delegations → meet → reforms
In a recent speech in the NA, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari urged Mr Achakzai to use the “authority and power” delegated to him by jailed PTI founder Imran Khan to direct opposition members to participate in parliamentary committees and discuss pressing national issues.
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Zardari → urge → issues
He said that since parliament had decided, on a motion moved by the PPP, to constitute a committee on electoral reforms, the opposition leader should nominate a representative to the committee and submit their name to the speaker’s office.
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leader → say → office
Recalling that the opposition had described electoral rigging as its “fundamental issue”, he said, “If we make efforts to bring all stakeholders together in a committee or arrange a briefing on terrorism, economic, and security issues without the opposition’s participation, it will be pointless.”
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it → recall → participation
Speaking to Dawn, PPP General Secretary Nayyar Bukhari said the party was not anticipating early elections; rather, efforts were being made to ensure transparent polls.
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efforts → speak → polls
He said it was the right time to initiate the electoral reform process because the government was about to complete three years of its five-year term.
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government → say → term
“In the final year of a five-year term, political parties usually launch their election campaigns and don’t concentrate on other issues.
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parties → launch → issues
Therefore, this is the right time for political parties to sit down together and introduce timely reforms unanimously,” he added.
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he → sit → reforms
Dismissing the opposition’s demand for equal representation on the proposed committee, he questioned: “When representation in parliament is not equal, how is equality possible in committees?”
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equality → dismiss → committees
He added that electoral reforms would reduce the scope for post-election allegations and disputes, and that including the opposition would further strengthen the legislative process.
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including → add → process
He said the leader of the opposition in the NA should meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the appointment of the CEC and two members of the Election Commission.
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leader → say → Commission
Meanwhile, a PPP insider said the party feared that the PTI, which is currently in opposition, could turn the tables with the help of a “hidden hand” and win the next general elections through pre-poll rigging.
uncertain
which → say → rigging
He added that alongside this concern, the PPP chairman genuinely wanted timely electoral reforms to make the country’s electoral process flawless, fair, and acceptable to all.
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process → add → all
When contacted, Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, president of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat), said he did not foresee early elections in the country.
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he → contact → country
He agreed that it was the right time to launch the electoral reform process because political parties still had sufficient time to rectify the electoral system before the next general election.
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parties → agree → election
Mr Mehboob, however, noted that there was a possibility of a system reset, which might have broader implications.
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which → note → implications
He said it was a good initiative to take the opposition on board regarding electoral reforms, adding that the government and the opposition should also sit down together to appoint a new chief election commissioner, as the incumbent CEC, Sikandar Sultan Raja, remains in office despite his term expiring two years ago.
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term → say → office
Under the 26th Constitutional Amendment, the incumbent CEC can continue to serve after the expiry of his term until a successor is appointed.
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successor → continue → term
The Constitution requires the prime minister to consult the leader of the opposition in the NA on the names proposed for the new CEC.
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Constitution → require → CEC
“I cannot understand why the leader of the opposition is not accepting the prime minister’s invitation to sit together for consultation on the new chief election commissioner,” he added.
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he → understand → commissioner
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry told Dawn that the initiative to form the parliamentary committee was taken by NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, not the PPP.
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initiative → tell → Sadiq
He added that he would begin meeting parliamentary leaders of all parties from today (Monday) to invite them to join the committee on electoral reforms.
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he → add → reforms
The minister said there was no reason why the PML-N-led government would not complete its five-year term, adding that the PPP had met opposition leaders solely on the speaker’s initiative.
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PPP → say → initiative
“The PPP can meet opposition leaders as a political move, but the party has no mandate to do anything beyond that,” he added.
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he → meet → that
To a question, Mr Chaudhry agreed that the PPP was creating difficulties for the government in its legislative business.
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PPP → agree → business
“The PPP is pinching us to make legislation, but it can’t keep itself away from the system,” he said.
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he → pinch → system
He insisted that the opposition must join the parliamentary committee, as it would open the doors for consultation on other important national issues.
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it → insist → issues
The minister said electoral reforms were necessary to prevent anyone from casting doubt on the elections.
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reforms → say → elections
However, he did not elaborate on what kind of reforms the government intended to propose.
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government → elaborate → reforms
The Aporia
