Government invites PTI to join 30-member electoral reforms committee

Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has invited Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to take part in a parliamentary committee on electoral reforms. The invitation was made to Malik Aamir Dogar, PTI's chief whip in the National Assembly, according to Daily Jang and Minute Mirror.

Speaking on a television programme, Chaudhry urged the opposition to become part of the 30-member committee, which includes members of the National Assembly and the Senate. He said a motion to set up the committee had already been passed in the National Assembly.

Chaudhry said the committee aims to make future elections non-controversial. Minute Mirror described the aim as transparent future elections.

Dogar welcomed the committee and called it a good step. He said, in the words reported by Daily Jang, "میں اس آفر کو مسترد نہیں کررہا" ("I am not rejecting this offer"). He said PTI would decide after consultation within the party.

In the same programme, Chaudhry advised PTI to act cautiously in politics. He alleged that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi used to veto decisions of the party leadership, and claimed PTI has no leader accepted by all at present.

Chaudhry said the emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was decided as a last option. Daily Jang quoted him as saying it was enforced after the provincial government refused cooperation.

Dogar said a PTI party meeting had expressed confidence in Afridi. He also said all political parties want to eliminate terrorism.

Chaudhry also said Islamabad would become the country's first empowered administrative unit, with its own legislative assembly and all departments under one roof.