Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari requested that lawmakers from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) join the electoral reforms committee on 29 October.
Zardari called for opposition groups to return to parliamentary committees, arguing that a powerful legislature benefits everyone. The Chairman asserted that the legislative process would gain strength if the opposition took an active role in it. He claimed that those seeking to keep the parliament ineffective and weak have already succeeded in their goal.
Zardari suggested the committee could serve as a forum to tackle claims of electoral rigging and establish reforms before upcoming polls. He told the opposition that participation in the electoral reforms committee is necessary for those wanting to resolve concerns regarding future rigging.
The PPP Chairman also requested a briefing for the parliament regarding the economy and the country's security situation. Zardari advocated for the parliament to be informed about the consequences of defence agreements signed by Pakistan. A high-level PPP delegation met with National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai.
Former federal minister Syed Naveed Qamar and former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf joined the meeting with Achakzai at the office of Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri. Achakzai stated that political parties would receive support if they collaborated to make the parliament stronger.
Achakzai added, "Neither are you so good, nor are we so bad. Let us sit together." Ashraf welcomed the message sent by Zardari. Ashraf claimed that the dignity of the institution is tied to the existence of free and fair elections.
