close
Thursday March 28, 2024

Shahbaz Sharif demands all parties be consulted on electoral reforms

Shahbaz Sharif says a plan on electoral reforms, backed by consensus, should be presented in Parliament

By Web Desk
June 18, 2021

ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif on Friday demanded all parties be taken on board on the issue of electoral reforms. 

The former Punjab chief minister wrote two separate letters to the National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser and Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan. 

In the letter to the chief election commissioner, Sharif said electoral reforms were of the utmost importance to ensure the next elections were held transparently and without any interference.

He accused the government of attempting to make the next elections controversial by introducing unilateral electoral reforms.

Shahbaz termed the government's electoral reforms as not being in line with the Constitution, adding that the relevant stakeholders had not been taken on board.

Sharif cited the ECP's example, saying that the commission had also expressed its concerns over the recent election bills. He said the government had bulldozed the election bills through the Parliament.

The PML-N leader said that to bring about meaningful electoral reforms, it was necessary that relevant institutions not only present their point of view but are also willing to take responsibility to ensure polls are held transparently.

He said it was the election commission's responsibility to ensure all parties' suggestions were heard on electoral reforms, urging the CEC to invite all parties for consultations so that a consensus-backed plan could be finalised. That plan can then be presented in the Parliament for approval, he added.

Media be given full access to Parliament

 In another letter addressed to  the NA speaker, Sharif said  that the Parliament had resumed its activities after a decline in coronavirus cases, adding that media should be allowed to cover proceedings in the House.

He called on the government to ensure all hurdles and obstacles were removed so that media can cover the National Assembly and the Senate proceedings independently.

The PML-N president also demanded that Opposition leaders be allowed to speak to the media. He said, in the letter, that the media was not being granted the opportunity to provide equal coverage to the government and the Opposition.