Kaira says electoral reforms bill to be drafted for fair polls

ISLAMABAD: Senior leader of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Qamar Zaman Kaira has said the electoral reforms was the combine agenda of the political parties and laws would be drafted in this regard.

Talking to a local news channel, he said electoral reforms was the need of the hour and too essential for holding free, fair and transparent elections in the country.

He said matters of the parliament should be resolved inside the House. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had approached the Supreme Court when the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) started to play with the constitution.

Read more: LHC issues notice against denial of voting rights to overseas Pakistanis

He said things should have to be improved by ignoring the past and all political parties should work for the development of the country as well as welfare of the people.

On June 11, 2021, the National Assembly (NA) had passed the Election Act Amendment Bill, 2020 containing dozens of edited clauses for bringing electoral reforms including the voting right for overseas Pakistanis.

The Lower House had passed the amended Election Act, 2017 that was presented by the then adviser to the prime minister on parliamentary affairs Dr. Babar Awan.

The Election Act Amendment Bill, 2020 contained dozens of modified clauses pointing to bring electoral reforms regarding the voting right for overseas Pakistanis, the open ballot for Senate polls, use of electronic voting machines (EVMs), and other sections to safeguard transparent and fair elections.