Islamabad, March 26: The Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani welcomed the Electoral Reforms proposals presented to him by a delegation of the Citizens Group on Electoral Process � CGEP, facilitated by PILDAT. �It is due to your contributions into political and electoral reforms and democracy strengthening that we are able to witness whatever form of democracy that exists in the country today,� he said lavishly praising the efforts of PILDAT and the CGEP while welcoming the Electoral Reform proposals. The Prime Minister assured the CGEP delegation of consideration of all electoral reform proposals and said that his government, contrary to the traditional view, is not striving for the longevity of its rule but for strengthening of institutions in Pakistan for a lasting democracy in the country.

The Prime Minister concurred with the need for conducting an enquiry into the faulty Computerised Electoral Rolls 2006 that not only resulted in disenfranchisement of millions of voters but into considerable monitory loss as well as loss of precious time.

A delegation of the Citizens Group on Electoral Process � CGEP, facilitated by PILDAT, separately called on Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Prime Minister of Pakistan, and Justice (Retd.) Hamid Ali Mirza, Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, and presented the CGEP proposals on required Electoral Reforms in Pakistan to the two.

The Citizens Group on Electoral Process � CGEP, a Group of eminent Pakistanis facilitated by PILDAT since December 2006 with the objective of contributing towards the holding of free, fair and credible elections in Pakistan.

The CGEP welcomed the Prime Minister�s decision for issuance of free CNICs to citizens as well as the acceleration in female CNICs for women through the Benazir Income Support Programme. The Prime Minister especially concurred with the CGEP proposal of the preparation of fresh Computerized Electoral Rolls with voters picture with the help of NADRA using the CNICs and directed that to encourage women to make their photo-CNICs, only those women who have photo CNICs will be considered for participation in the Waseela-e-Haq programme.

The Prime Minister approved the idea of �Compulsory Voting� as proposed by Mr. Javed Jabbar.

Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob while presenting the proposed Electoral Reforms to the Prime Minister stressed that this is the historical moment to institute Electoral Reforms in the Country and accurate and up to date electoral rolls are a pre-requisite for free and fair elections. The CGEP also highlighted the need for voter-registration to be a One Window Operation alongside the registration of CNICs by NADRA which the Prime Minister appreciated.

The CGEP, in another interactive session with Justice (Retd.) Hamid Ali Mirza, Chief Election Commissioner, presented its proposed Electoral Reforms. Mr. Ishtiak Ahmed Khan, Secretary Election Commission shared the ECP Strategic Plan with the CGEP delegation for the CGEP review. The CGEP members welcomed the new leadership of the Election Commission of Pakistan including the Secretary and the CEC and especially underscored the need for an effective use and display of the independence of the Election Commission under the new leadership. �The ECP has the powers in place to exercise its independence effectively,� urged the CGEP members highlighting that the ECP requires to overcome the deficit of trust in the institution that years of lack of independence of ECP has generated in citizens. The ECP Secretary, while answering various questions, said that the ECP was in the process of collaborating with NADRA to make accurate and up to date electoral rolls within the next 6 months. The CGEP delegation raised various core issues with the CEC including the scrutiny of the candidates, display of Electoral Rolls on the ECP website and of computerized electoral Rolls with pictures.

An updated CGEP Position Paper on Electoral Reforms in Pakistan was shared with the Prime Minister of Pakistan as well as with the Chief Election Commissioner in the two meetings by the CGEP delegation.

The members of the CGEP who comprised the delegation included Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Executive Director PILDAT, Mr. Javed Jabbar, former Senator & Federal Minister, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Moinuddin Haider, former Governor Sindh; former Federal Minister for Interior, Mr. Mujib-ur-Rehman Shami, Editor in Chief, Daily Pakistan; President APNS, Justice (Retd.) Nasira Iqbal, former President, Lahore High Court Bar Association; former Judge, Lahore High Court, Mr. Omar Khan Afridi, Federal Caretaker Minister for Interior, Mr. Saleem Safi, Columnist and Ms. Aasiya Riaz, Joint Director PILDAT.

PILDAT is also carrying out a project on Electoral and Parliamentary Process and Civil Society in Pakistan, in partnership with the East-West Centre, Hawaii and supported by the United Nations Democracy Fund.