The government is weighing how to share seats on a new parliamentary panel for electoral reforms in Pakistan, with sources saying the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) may cut its own numbers so coalition partners can join.
Government sources said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wants every coalition partner brought on board. Talks are under way to give places to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and other allied parties. Sources added that PML-N may shrink its share in line with its strength in parliament so those partners can sit on the committee.
How the seats could be shared
Under the proposed proportional formula, the PPP would be entitled to five members and MQM-P to one. The ruling PML-N was initially allocated nine seats from the National Assembly. If coalition partners are included, sources said PML-N’s National Assembly representation on the panel is expected to fall below nine.
Officials are also considering one National Assembly member each from the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Zia.
Nominations already sought
The government had earlier asked the PPP and MQM-P for nominations. Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry wrote to PPP Chief Whip Aijaz Jakhrani and MQM-P Chief Whip Aminul Haque seeking names for the committee.
Chaudhry said the parties had been asked to nominate members in light of a letter from National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. He had also said he would meet parliamentary leaders of all political parties to invite them onto the electoral reforms committee.
What the committee is meant to do
PPP Senator Sherry Rehman has said a resolution was passed on a proposal from PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to create a parliamentary committee on electoral reforms drawn from both houses of parliament. The panel is to deliberate on electoral reforms in Pakistan and send its recommendations to parliament for approval. No specific draft recommendations have been announced yet; the immediate debate is who will sit on the committee and how seats will be divided among the ruling side and its allies.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Hukumat electoral reforms wali committee mein ittehaadi jamaaton ko bhi jagah dena chahti hai. PML-N apni seats kam kar sakti hai taake PPP, MQM-P aur chhoti parties shamil ho saken. Abhi nominations aur baat cheet chal rahi hai; committee baad mein reforms ke suggestions parliament ko degi. Aam shehri ke liye yeh seedha matlab hai ke vote aur election ke qawaid par faisla zyada parties mil kar karen gi.
