Fafen opposes lawmaking ‘in haste’ for open ballot system

The Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen) has opposed lawmaking and amendment ‘in haste’ for holding Senate election through the open ballot.

The non-government organisation stressed the need for holding deliberations before going for lawmaking and bringing in amendments. It said proper pondering would help curb ‘buying votes’ and issues like a penalty to disloyal lawmakers.

FAFEN views come a day after the top government reps briefed the media about the plan to hold ‘fair’ elections for the upper house of the parliament. Information Minister Shibli Faraz said the government would hold fair Senate vote at all costs and Awan talked about the draft.

The government proposed replacing 'single transferable vote' in Article 59(2) of the Constitution with 'open vote', changing Article 63(1)(c) to allow Pakistanis with dual nationalities to contest elections and include the word Senate in Article 226 of the Constitution.

Fafen insisted that without holding a 30-day debate before going for lawmaking, the changes might be a futile exercise.