The Pakistan Peoples Party has stepped up its effort to bring opposition parties into a joint process on electoral reforms, holding a second consecutive day of talks with Senate opposition members on Friday. The PPP delegation, led by Senator Sherry Rehman, urged opposition parties to join the Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms and to return to the standing committees they left in August 2025. The meetings signal a renewed attempt to build cross-party agreement on the rules governing future elections.
Electoral reform has long been a sensitive subject in Pakistan, touching on issues such as voter lists, the conduct of polling, the role of the Election Commission and the transparency of results. Supporters of reform argue that agreed rules, settled well before an election, can reduce disputes afterwards and strengthen public confidence in the outcome. Critics, however, often disagree about the scope and timing of changes, and about whether reforms should be pursued through parliament or through other forums.
The PPP’s approach in this round of talks appears to be centred on parliament itself. By urging opposition parties to take their seats on the Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms, the party is arguing that the committee is the proper venue for detailed discussion and negotiation. Membership would give opposition parties a direct role in shaping proposals, rather than leaving the process to the government benches alone.
A second part of the PPP’s message concerned the standing committees that opposition parties quit in August 2025. Standing committees carry out much of parliament’s detailed legislative work, scrutinising bills, questioning officials and reviewing policy. When opposition members stay away, that scrutiny is weakened and legislation can proceed with less debate. The PPP’s call for a return is therefore presented as a call to restore the normal functioning of parliament, not simply as a tactical move on one issue.
According to the reports of the meeting, the opposition parties said they would consult internally before giving a response. That is a familiar step in multi-party negotiations, where delegations often need to take proposals back to their leadership and parliamentary groups. It also suggests that no immediate agreement was reached on Friday, but that the door remains open for further discussion.
Senator Ali Zafar, speaking on the opposition side, said reforms were essential. His remark indicates that, at least in principle, there is shared recognition that the electoral framework needs attention. The challenge, as in previous rounds, will be to move from agreement in principle to agreement on specific measures, and to do so in a way that commands broad support across party lines.
The talks also raised the question of a new Chief Election Commissioner. The incumbent is serving past the expiry of his term under the 27th Amendment until a successor is appointed, a situation that itself has drawn political attention. The appointment of the head of the Election Commission is a key part of the electoral system, because the Commission oversees the conduct of elections and its leadership is expected to command confidence across the political spectrum. Any discussion of electoral reforms is therefore closely linked to how and when that appointment is settled.
For the PPP, the second day of meetings suggests a deliberate strategy of sustained engagement rather than a single symbolic gesture. Meeting on consecutive days allows both sides to clarify positions, test proposals and build the working relationships that formal committee work requires. Sherry Rehman’s leadership of the delegation also signals the importance the party attaches to the Senate as a forum for negotiation.
What happens next will depend on the outcome of the opposition’s internal consultations. If opposition parties agree to join the electoral reforms committee and return to standing committees, parliament would be better placed to take up reform legislation in an inclusive way. If they decline, the PPP and the government may still proceed, but the reforms would carry less cross-party weight and could face greater political challenge.
Source: Dawn, 31 October 2026
