The Express Tribune

Proposals by the Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms to solve the operational problems of our electoral system would facilitate fair and free elections. The Committee has not proposed systemic reform by changing the formula of electoral decision. It has favoured the present system requiring a relative majority of votes to win in a single-member constituency for national and provincial assemblies. This individual oriented system of disproportional representation on the basis of a dubious majority is not suitable for Pakistan. Originally introduced for local bodies, this system has localised the body-politic of the country. Many persons elected under this system lacked quality of national leadership. Votaries of this system should realise that governance of Pakistan is too complex a matter for local influential persons with local bias. Alternatively, a modified German system of the party oriented mixed proportional representation on the basis of a genuine majority is congruous for Pakistan. With provisions of single-member and multi-member constituencies, it would integrate voter-representative and vote-seat relationships. Such a system would enhance the ability of leaders to steer the ship of the state.Another model of this system was proposed by the famous German Psephologist Dieter Nohlen in his book Electoral System: Options for Pakistan. He opined, “electoral systems are important elements which mould the structure of a representative democracy. They contribute substantially to the legitimacy … of political system[s] … by political integration of all relevant social interests in the shape of just representation, and to efficiency by bringing about stable majorities in the political decision-making bodies.”Taraq JazyPublished in, January 31, 2017.Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook , follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.