Parties Agree On Formation Of Ad Hoc Parliamentary Panels
Faizan Hashmi Published October 16, 2018 | 05:39 PM
The ruling and opposition parties on Tuesday reached an agreement on how to form six ad hoc parliamentary committees.
SEOUL, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Oct, 2018 ) :The ruling and opposition parties on Tuesday reached an agreement on how to form six ad hoc parliamentary committees.
Rival parties had been at loggerheads over the number of seats that should be allotted to each party on two key special committees on political and judicial reforms.
The agreement is expected to help revive tepid discussions on the overhaul of the parliamentary electoral system and the proposed enhancement of the police's authority to investigate independently of the prosecution.
If launched, the political reform panel should first handle the issue of re-drawing the districts for parliamentary elections in April 2020.
By law, districts should be finalized one year before a general election. To this end, the panel should approve the composition of a redistricting committee that will be set up by the state election watchdog.
The parliamentary panel is also tasked with discussing how to overhaul the electoral system, including the introduction of a German-style mixed-member proportional (MMP) representation system.
Under MMP, the number of parliamentary seats each party receives is tied to the percentage of voters' support they receive.
Currently, a voter casts two ballots for general elections -- one to select a single representative for each district and the other to pick a party for proportional representation.
Minor opposition parties are strongly calling for the adoption of MMP representation.
The ruling Democratic Party is largely lukewarm toward the reform, but its chief has recently hinted at a positive position, saying that discussions for electoral reform could happen, separately from talks on a constitutional revision.
Meanwhile, the committee on judicial reform is expected to delve into the government's proposal to allow police to have greater investigative power.
The government announced in June that it will empower police to initiate and close cases without approval from the prosecution as part of long-delayed reforms of the division of investigative powers.
The parties also agreed to vote on the confirmation motions for President Moon Jae-in's picks for three Constitutional Court justices at a plenary session on Wednesday.
Last month, the National Assembly held confirmation hearings for the three nominees, who were recommended by each political party. But it failed to adopt hearing reports, protracting the process of composing the nine-member panel.
"The parties agreed to vote on them, given that the vacancy of the panel can no longer be left alone," according to a joint statement reached by the floor leaders of the DP, the main opposition Liberty Korea Party and the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party.
They also decided to enhance the verification process for candidates named at major public posts and to improve a confirmation hearing system.
"During the ongoing regular parliamentary session, we will come up with measures to improve the process of reviewing the qualifications of candidates for public posts who are recommended by parties," it said.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
President calls for further strengthening of Pakistan-UK trade, economic ties
President for better marketing, projection of gemstone industry of Pakistan
26% increase on tobacco tax can reduce PKR 300bn in health cost
China keen to launch uplift projects for Gwadar’s local population: Senator
Pakistan to bring perpetrator of Dasu terrorist attack to justice soon: Lin Jian
Financial crisis at UK's biggest water supplier worsens
French parliament backs bill against hair discrimination affecting black women
Poland raids Russian spy network: security services
Commissioner directs officials to prepare for Shaheed Zaulfiqar Ali Bhutto's ann ..
UK greenhouse gas emissions fell 5.4% in 2023: data
Pakistan's total liquid foreign reserves reach $ 13.42 billion
European stock markets head into Easter break with slight gains
More Stories From World
-
Pakistan to bring perpetrator of Dasu terrorist attack to justice soon: Lin Jian
29 minutes ago -
Financial crisis at UK's biggest water supplier worsens
29 minutes ago -
French parliament backs bill against hair discrimination affecting black women
29 minutes ago -
Poland raids Russian spy network: security services
29 minutes ago -
UK greenhouse gas emissions fell 5.4% in 2023: data
29 minutes ago -
Haiti situation 'cataclysmic': UN
2 hours ago
-
Profits fall for China's top chipmaker as sanctions bite
2 hours ago -
Portugal awaits new government after hung polls
2 hours ago -
China willing to work with Pakistan to enhance capability of tackling security challenges: Col Wu Qi ..
2 hours ago -
Haiti situation 'cataclysmic': UN
2 hours ago -
Detectives return to French village to solve missing toddler mystery
2 hours ago -
Japan Moon probe survives second lunar night: space agency
3 hours ago