While highlighting the string of complaints about the rigging in 2018 general elections, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif in a letter to the chief election commissioner called for evolving a consensus on electoral reforms to ensure that the next elections are held in a free, fair and transparent manner, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.

He asked Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja to invite all the opposition parties for talks on achieving a consensus-based reform plan.

In the letter to, Shehbaz Sharif said the Election Commission of Pakistan had itself expressed serious concerns regarding the recent election bills bulldozed through the National Assembly.

“Any election-related legislation should be based on broad-based consensus,” the Leader of the Opposition remarked.

He further said for meaningful election reforms the institutions have to ensure stakeholders’ input and ownership. The spirit of upholding the constitution must be at the centre of the reform plan, he added.

Shehbaz said “It is the responsibility of the ECP to hold an inclusive dialogue with all political parties of the subject of electoral reforms.”

He called upon the CEC to invite all opposition parties to achieve a consensus-based reform plan which can then be presented before the Parliament for passage.

Reporter Ehtisham Kiyani