Electoral Reforms: Minister's phone call to PTI's Chief Whip

ISLAMABAD: The government has invited PTI for its participation in the proposed parliamentary committee for electoral reforms, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry in a telephonic call to the PTI’s Chief Whip Amir Dogar discussed formation of the electoral reforms committee and requested for the main opposition party’s participation in the parliamentary body. “The Opposition should send the names of its members for the committee,” minister asked the PTI leader.

Amir Dogar asked about the composition of the parliamentary committee, “All parties will be given representation according to their parliamentary strength,” Tariq Fazal said. “According to the seats ratio, the government would have 15 and the opposition have five members in the committee,” minister further said.

“What role the opposition could play with this extremely low representation in the committee,” PTI’s leader questioned.

He demanded revision of the formula of representation in the parliamentary body and suggested the formula of the electoral reforms committee constituted in 2013. He said the PTI’s reply to the government will be given after consultation with the parliamentary leadership.

He also demanded probe into the theft of the PTI’s mandate in the previous election.

Tariq Fazal said that the Terms of Reference will be compiled after notification of the committee while stressing for prompt suggestion of the opposition’s names for the committee for issuance of the notification.

Parliamentary Affairs minister earlier written letters to Chief Whip of the PPP Aijaz Jakhrani and MQM’s Amin ul Haq seeking the parties’ names for the proposed parliamentary committee for electoral reforms.