Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: National Democratic Foundation Chairman and former Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan Kanwar Dilshad has raised eyebrows on the electoral reforms committee and said that it did not evolve any positive strategy to eradicate rigging.

While talking to the Daily Times, he said that the 27th amendment could not finish irregularities and rigging, and for this purpose, ground realities must be kept in view. The recommendations of the committee are already present in National Representation Act 1976.

He said that the prevailing terms and conditions of the nomination form should be maintained. He said that the decisions of adopting electronic voting, biometric system and giving the right of franchise to overseas Pakistanis are commendable but by keeping in view the current scenario of Pakistan, the potential of its success here is very meagre. He said that electronic voting machines had many drawbacks as data could be hacked. Recently, some allegations were levelled against Russia that it intervened in the US Presidential elections. Similarly, he said, it seemed that the victory of Modi in Indian elections might be the result of data hacking.

He said that the National Representation Act 1976 could not be implemented in its true letter and spirit due to those court decisions that hindered its way at different times. The electoral reforms committee should has been worked on removing these legal obstacles by bringing in some constructive policies.

He said that the registration policy for political parties has changed, which is good as it discourages the so called political parties to get registered in the ECP. Kanwar Dilshad said that the reforms committee has included the draft of the reforms in its working which was submitted by Election Commission of Pakistan before Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani , Prime Minister at that time on 11 March 2009. “I complied with the report as Secretary Election Commission that was approved by former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Qazi Muhammad Farooq,” he added. He said that the recommendation by the electoral reforms committee does not have any worth beyond hoodwinking civil society and media. He said that the committee’s recommendations have bowed to international pressure to declare null and void voting in the constituency where women turnout would be less than 10 percent, seemingly unconcerned by female oppression in the country. If this article would be implemented, then international community would raise many questions about the Pakistani culture and it would defame the country. “It is the need of the hour that after getting approval of recommendations of reforms committee from all four provinces, it should be put up in Council of Common Interest for final endorsement.”