Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency

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 1
 Context
v Electoral Reforms – a popular demand, 85 %
Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency

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
 Context
Some significant electoral reforms during
Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency

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

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 Context
Key electoral reforms during PPPP Government
Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency

(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
 Why Electoral Reforms NOW?
Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency

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

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 v Qualifications of EC Members & CEC in the
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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
 vECP should strengthen system of
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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
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 • Better Training of Returning Officers &
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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
 vA Culture of Consultation & Dialogue
Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency

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
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 vMechanism be devised for Voting by
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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
 vProportional Representation System
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vSystem to elect women on quota needs

improvement
vPresidential Vs Parliamentary form of
government
v Run-off elections in constituencies

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 vParliamentary Committee on Electoral
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Reforms should expeditiously complete

its work by 21st October
vResulting Legislative Agenda be
implemented (i.e Laws made) by January
2015 latest

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 Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency

Thank You!

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