electoral reforms in pakistan - presentation

1. Pakistan
Institute
of
Legislative
Development
And
Transparency
1
Electoral Reforms in Pakistan
Ahmed Bilal Mehboob
PILDAT: www.pildat.org
East-West Center
Deepening Democracy Through Media in Pakistan National
Alumni Conference 2014
October 18, 2014

2. Pakistan
Institute
of
Legislative
Development
And
Transparency
Context
v Electoral Reforms – a popular demand, 85 %
v Significant electoral reforms already in place
v Reforms are an ongoing process
v Reforms themselves would not guarantee
good results; implementation and
enforcement is important
vFor the implementation of electoral reforms
continuity of democratic order is of great
importance. 2

3. Pakistan
Institute
of
Legislative
Development
And
Transparency
Context
Some significant electoral reforms during
Musharraf regime (1999-2009):
vReduced voting age to 18 Y
vIncreased number of seats in legislatures
vIncreased Women’s Reserved Seats
vIntroduced University Degree as a
Candidate’s Qualification
3

4. Pakistan
Institute
of
Legislative
Development
And
Transparency
Context
Key electoral reforms during PPPP Government
(2008-2013):
vA full time Election Commission
vBi-partisan appointment of CEC & Members
vBi-partisan appointment of Caretaker Govts.
vCNIC must for vote registration & casting
v Computerised Electoral Rolls
vFull-time, Dedicated Election Tribunals 4

5. Pakistan
Institute
of
Legislative
Development
And
Transparency
5
v Continuing low Public Trust in Electoral
Process will Discredit Democracy
v Experiences of 2013 Election still Fresh
v Consensus on Electoral Reforms becomes
difficult closer to next election
Why Electoral Reforms NOW?

6. Pakistan
Institute
of
Legislative
Development
And
Transparency
v Qualifications of EC Members & CEC in the
constitution be amended; CEC & Members
may not necessarily be from Judiciary
vRetired Judges Should Not Be Appointed in
EC directly after Retirement
v Biometric verification of voter before voting
v Electronic Voting Machine
vLaw to limit & Regulate Election Spending by
Political Parties 6

7. Pakistan
Institute
of
Legislative
Development
And
Transparency
vECP should strengthen system of
constituency monitors
vLaw and Mechanism to Control outgoing
Government’s Influence in Elections; (e.g Dev
Funds, Advance Payment to TV Channels)
vECP Should Exercise Control,
Superintendence and Discipline on Election
Staff seconded to it
vIndependence of the Polling Staff be ensured
7

8. Pakistan
Institute
of
Legislative
Development
And
Transparency
• Better Training of Returning Officers &
Polling Staff
• Training of Polling Agents
• Increase the number of Polling Stations &
make them Permanent
• Post polling-station wise statement of
count on ECP website as soon as received
• Strict Compliance of Electoral Code of
Conduct and giving it a legal cover 8

9. Pakistan
Institute
of
Legislative
Development
And
Transparency
vA Culture of Consultation & Dialogue
vElection Tribunals Should Decide
Petitions within the 4- Months Period
Prescribed in the Law; ECP Role?
vAppointment of Returning Officers other
than from Judiciary
vThe system of appointing caretaker
governments should be reviewed
9

10. Pakistan
Institute
of
Legislative
Development
And
Transparency
vMechanism be devised for Voting by
Overseas Pakistanis; Are we ready for
massive postal balloting?
vExtend the period of scrutiny of
candidates nomination papers
vImprove the enforceability of Articles 62
and 63 of the Constitution
vA constitutional cover for regular Local
Govt Election 10

11. Pakistan
Institute
of
Legislative
Development
And
Transparency
vProportional Representation System
vSystem to elect women on quota needs
improvement
vPresidential Vs Parliamentary form of
government
v Run-off elections in constituencies
11

12. Pakistan
Institute
of
Legislative
Development
And
Transparency
vParliamentary Committee on Electoral
Reforms should expeditiously complete
its work by 21st October
vResulting Legislative Agenda be
implemented (i.e Laws made) by January
2015 latest
12

13. Pakistan
Institute
of
Legislative
Development
And
Transparency
13
Thank You!