ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has invited opposition parties to participate in parliamentary committees on electoral reforms and play an active role in improving the electoral system. Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has said that the proposed committee will comprise 30 members.

Speaking to the media after meeting an opposition delegation, PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman said the meeting was held on the instructions of party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

She said the PPP had urged opposition parties to ensure their participation in the electoral reforms committees being formed in both houses of Parliament.

Rehman stressed that opposition parties should play an active role in the committees and openly present their concerns. She said parliamentary committees were central to legislative affairs and that remaining absent from them would make it difficult to address the opposition's reservations.

She added that the PPP also wanted opposition parties to return to the standing committees they had boycotted. According to Rehman, efforts to reach an understanding on electoral reforms had continued across different political periods.

She said opposition leaders had listened to the proposals in a spirit of goodwill and promised to respond after consultation. Rehman expressed hope that the opposition would give a positive response.


Electoral Reforms Committee to Have 30 Members

Separately, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry told the media that the National Assembly had approved the formation of the Electoral Reforms Committee.

He said the Speaker of the National Assembly would issue the committee's formal notification soon, adding that the process of finalising the names of its members was still underway.

According to Chaudhry, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) did not oppose the motion when it was presented in the National Assembly.

He said the proposed committee would consist of 30 members, including 20 from the National Assembly and 10 from the Senate. Seats would be allocated to political parties according to their numerical strength in the respective houses.

The minister said the committee aimed to improve the electoral system, enhance transparency and promote parliamentary consultation and consensus on electoral reforms.

He added that the government would seek to give due consideration to constructive and practical proposals from all parliamentary parties, including the opposition.

Chaudhry maintained that electoral reforms were not the concern of any single political party but a shared national responsibility. He urged all political parties to contribute through consultation and by prioritising the national interest to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process and democratic institutions.