A tussle has been going on between the PTI government and opposition parties over the electoral reforms process. The PTI government wants to introduce the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and casting of online votes by overseas Pakistanis in the next general elections while the idea is being opposed by opposition parties mainly by the PML-N and PPP. The opposition is calling for consensus and adoption of due process for the finalisation of electoral reforms. In this regard, the joint opposition in parliament has asked National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser to constitute a new parliamentary committee to take up electoral reforms as a whole in the form of a “complete package”.
The suggestion by the opposition is valid and the government needs to pay heed to building a consensus over national matters instead of continuing its solo flight in the parliament. At a time when the coalition partners of the government are also expressing their resentment over government’s indifference attitude, it has become more necessary for the government to implement any new idea after thorough sifting by the concerned forum. Any action in haste can bring negative results and waste the whole idea even if based on good intentions. The government claims that it has recently put off the joint session of the parliament in order to engage opposition in talks over the election reforms. On the other hand, the opposition believes that the joint session was cancelled by the government after becoming politically isolated as it did not have the numbers anymore to bulldoze their bills as their own people and allies had stepped back.
In a democratic process, any legislation without taking opposition on board can bring disastrous results. The use of electronic machines for voting in Pakistan has its own pros and cons. It cannot be implemented all at once as a large percentage of population is illiterate in Pakistan. Moreover, technical formalities cannot be ignored. Therefore, it would be better for the government to go through necessary process and take the parliament into confidence before introducing and implementing any reforms in the election process.
