Islamabad, November 23; Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency - PILDAT has noted with great concern that the Federal Government has proposed a 2-year term for members of the Election Commission of Pakistan in the bill introduced in the National Assembly on Monday, November 21, 2011.

The Members, Election Commission (Oath of Office, salary, allowances, perks and privileges) Bill, 2011, if passed, will fix the term of office of the member of the Election Commission of Pakistan to 2 years from the date he/she takes the oath of the Office.

PILDAT has learnt that the Election Commission of Pakistan itself had recommended that the term of the Office of its members should be fixed at 5 years but the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs decided to arbitrarily reduce this term to 2 years.

It is important to note that the 18th Constitutional Amendment had increased the term of the office of Chief Election Commissioner from 3 to 5 years but it left the question of members� term and other service conditions unanswered.

PILDAT also noted that in the neighbouring countries of India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka the term of the Chief Election Commissioners and the members of the Election Commission ranges from 5 to 6 years; India having a 6 year term whereas Sri Lanka and Bangladesh provide for a 5-year term of members of the Election Commission.

PILDAT has taken a strong exception to the Government efforts to reduce the term of Election Commission members to 2 years and has demanded that this term be fixed at 5 years like that of the Chief Election Commissioner. PILDAT demanded of the Government to revise the bill and increase the term of ECP members to 5 years.

PILDAT has also impressed upon the honourable members of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs in particular, and members of the Parliament in general, to not pass the law in its present form and change the term of the members of the ECP to 5 years as is the international norm.

PILDAT also noted that the current government and Parliament deserve the credit for appointing the four full-time permanent members of the Election Commission for the first time in the history of the country in accordance with the 18th Constitutional Amendment as serving judges of the high court served as part-time members of the ECP before the 18th Amendment.

The four members of the ECP were inducted on June 13, 2011 following a bi-partisan consensus which is a rare feat in the history of the country. It is important that the Government consolidates these gains rather than diluting their effect, PILDAT added. A short term of the members especially when it is about to end right after the scheduled date of General Election will subject the members to undue pressure, PILDAT noted.

PILDAT is committed to working for strengthening democracy and democratic institutions in Pakistan and believes that shortening of the term of Office of members of the Election Commission will lead to a question mark over the independence of the ECP and the credibility of the forthcoming General Election.