PPP's Raza Rabbani opposes PM Imran Khan's suggestion of open voting in Senate elections
"Instead of an open vote, the name of the voter as a member of the provincial assembly be written on the ballot paper," suggests Rabbani
November 20, 2020
ISLAMABAD: Former Senate chairman Mian Raza Rabbani has opposed Prime Minister Imran Khan's suggestion of a constitutional amendment to change Senate election procedure, The News reported on Friday.
Earlier this week, the premier had announced PTI government's intentions to move a constitutional amendment in the Parliament to do away with secret balloting and adopt show of hands method for Senate elections.
Read more: We will introduce electronic voting system in Pakistan, says PM Imran Khan
Rabbani, however, suggested that instead of an open vote, the ballot paper can have the voter's name. The PPP senator the Constitution (Twenty-Sixth Amendment) Bill 2020, introduced during a previous National Assembly session and referred to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice, seeks to amend Article 59 of the 1973 Constitution to replace the word "transferable" with "open".
Speaking to The News, Rabbani said one might not have qualms to transparent elections but in essence the amendment to Articl 59, as stipulated in the Bill, shall change the entire scheme of the Constitution as much as it deals with and pertains to the composition and complexion of the Senate of Pakistan.
