Minister says electoral reforms panel to have 2 members each from PML-N, PPP and PTI

The ruling PML-N, its coalition partner PPP and the opposition PTI will each get two seats on the proposed Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms (PCER), Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said on Thursday.

In a post on X, Chaudhry said the allocation of seats in the Senate for the committee would give two seats each to the PML-N, PPP and PTI.

The Awami National Party (ANP), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), National Party and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) will each be allocated one seat, he added.

“The final decision on the names of the committee members will be made by the leader of the house (the prime minister) and the deputy prime minister after consultations with the opposition, coalition partners and relevant parliamentary leadership,” Chaudhry said.

Earlier this week, the government, taking ownership of an initiative to bring all parliamentary parties, including the opposition, to the negotiating table on electoral reforms, formally appr­oached its allies to join the proposed PCER.

It had contacted its key allies, the PPP and the MQM-P, seeking nominations for their representatives on the proposed committee. The PPP had submitted the names of its legislators for the PCER. However, the names have not yet been made public.

On Tuesday, the government formally approached the opposition to seek its representation on the proposed PCER. However, the opposition had termed the formation of the committee a “futile exercise” unless its long-standing demands were met.

Chaudhry had also contacted PTI chief whip in the National Assembly, Aamir Dogar, asking him to submit the names of opposition lawmakers for the committee.

However, Dogar had expressed reservations over the proposed composition of the committee and demanded equal representation for the government and opposition.

Last week, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari urged National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai to use the “authority and power” delegated to him by jailed PTI founder Imran Khan to direct opposition members to participate in parliamentary committees.

He said the opposition leader should nominate representatives to the committee on electoral reforms and submit the names to the Speaker’s Office.

Later on, a PPP delegation had also met Achakzai and Senate Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas.

During the meeting, the PPP delegation invited the opposition to participate in the parliamentary committee to promote consultation and discussion among parliamentary representatives on electoral reforms.