PCER fails to finalize draft bill despite passage of 27 months

Parliamen-tary Committee on Electoral Reforms (PCER) is yet to finalize a draft amendment bill despite the passage of 27 months. PCER was formed on July 25, 2014. Rule 7(1) of its rules of procedure states that the committee shall submit its final report within three months of its formation. However, after a lapse of 27 months, PCER is still far from completing its task. Even sub-committee of PCER has yet to submit its reports and recommendations after 68 meetings.
While talking to Business Recorder, Member Sub-Committee, Senator Sahibzada Tariq Ullah said that the committee is in the process of giving final touches to the draft bill before submitting it to the main committee. He said PCER would likely meet on January 20, which would be chaired by Senator Ishaq Dar. An employee of Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), an election observer said that Pakistan's progress on electoral reforms is significant for the continuation of Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP Plus) status awarded in December, 2013.
Subsequent to the final reports submitted to PCER by the sub-committee it will take more time for PCER to prepare its own report and recommendations. The Parliament will then be required to debate and legislate on the proposed reforms. Only then the laws have been made and amended, FAFEN representative added.
Member Committee Dr Arif Alvi (Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaaf) submitted a letter to PCER on its slow progress in which he accused ECP and NADRA (of) using delaying tactics and if the progress remains the same PTI feels that the 2018 elections may not be any better than the elections held in 2013 or the recently concluded Local Bodies Elections.
Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali on Thursday observed that apart from holding regular meetings, PCER has not yet come up with any solution to electoral problems. There is limited information on the committee's workings since most of its proceedings are kept secret. No draft of the proposed laws or recommendations for amendments to the constitution, have been made public.
There are 11 members from the upper house and 22 members from lower house of the Parliament in the 33-member committee with 19 members representing the ruling alliance while 14 belong to the opposition benches. Keeping in view the urgency of the matter, the portion dealing with the appointment of the members of the ECP and its chief was separated by PCER from the rest of the electoral reforms and approved by both Houses.
After the 2013 general elections there was strong reaction from political parties, PTI in particular, that compelled the government to form an Inquiry Commission and the PCER. The General Elections Inquiry Commission (GEIC) had written a comprehensive commentary on ECP's inefficiencies and shortcomings.
While GEIC's report focuses on the internal functional failings and incompetence of the ECP, several local and international observers find the ECP's lack of autonomy and authority to be the problem area. Another Member Committee Colonel Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi (Retd) told Business Recorder that PTI seems to shift focus from one event to another when completion of the PCER's agenda should have been a top priority. He added that PTI members were not participating in the meeting regularly.
Recently, European Union's (EU) Electoral Follow-up Mission (EFM) submitted its report to the PCER wherein considerable dissatisfaction was expressed over the electoral reforms process. EU's Election Observation Mission (EOMs), which observed three Parliamentary elections, recommended fifty measures for electoral reforms after the general elections of 2013. As per the report of EFM, none of the 50 recommendations have been totally implemented. With one and half year remaining for the next general elections, the country is still awaiting an amended electoral bill.