Parliamentary Sub-committee on Electoral Reforms could not reach any conclusion on proposed amendments in nomination forms and, therefore, adjourned its meeting till next week. Convener Committee Zahid Hamid told media persons that the schedule of the meeting is not yet decided but it might be the final meeting of the sub-committee. However, he said that the final decision on amendments in nomination papers was prerogative of the Parliament.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms, had assured media persons after the last meeting of the committee that work on the election reforms package would be completed before the federal budget. He had also said that the committee held its 21st meeting and overall 102 meetings of both the main committee and the sub-committee had taken place.
On Wednesday, sources said that the committee reviewed the proposed Election Act 2017. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has shown reservations on proposed amendments in nomination forms for general election 2018. In its recommendations, the sub-committee asked similar kind of nomination papers for candidates of Senate, National Assembly and provincial assemblies. It further proposed that security fee of the candidates would be confiscated who would receive votes less than one fourth of the total votes cast in the constituency. The committee also reached consensus that every political party will hold intra-party election at least once in every six years.
Hamid claimed that political parties have consensus over major amendments proposed by the sub-committee. Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner has asked the parliamentary committee to expedite the legislation on election laws as per ToRs of the committee. He was addressing a training workshop of election officers on Wednesday.
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