ISLAMABAD — The National Assembly on Friday passed a motion to set up a parliamentary committee on electoral reforms drawn from both Houses, with a remit to recommend steps for free, fair and transparent elections.
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary moved the motion under Rule 244B of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007. The vote clears the formal path for a cross-chamber panel before membership is notified.
How the committee will be formed
Under the motion, the Speaker of the National Assembly will constitute the committee after consulting the Senate chairman and the leaders of parliamentary parties. Membership is to come from all parliamentary parties in proportion to their strength in Parliament.
The Speaker is also authorised to replace any member if the leader of that member’s parliamentary party requests a change. That arrangement keeps party leadership involved in who sits on the panel after it is formed.
What the panel is asked to do
The parliamentary committee on electoral reforms is charged with recommending measures for free, fair and transparent elections. That includes considering the latest available technology for conducting polls and preparing draft legislation, including constitutional amendments where those are judged necessary.
The committee may form subcommittees if it needs them. Meeting quorum is set at one-fourth of total membership. After the notification that constitutes the committee, it must submit its report to Parliament within the timeframe the Speaker specifies.
What happens next
Passage of the motion is the first step, not the final one. The Speakers’ offices and party leaders still have to agree names and issue the constituting notification before work on electoral reforms in Pakistan can begin in committee. Until then, no draft bills or technology proposals are before Parliament from this panel.
Ordinary voters will not see immediate changes on polling day; those would come only if recommendations later become law and are implemented. For now, the National Assembly has authorised a joint forum to study reforms and report back on a Speaker-set schedule.
Aasan alfaaz mein
National Assembly ne intekhabi islahat ke liye ek parliamentary committee banane ka motion pass kar diya hai. Is committee mein National Assembly aur Senate dono ke members shamil honge. Ye committee free aur fair elections ke liye tajaveez degi, technology aur qanoon samet. Ab Speaker notification ke baad members name karega; asar tab hoga jab tajaveez qanoon ban kar lagoo honi shuru hon.
