Pakistan PM wants electoral reforms expedited

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday said he wants to expedite electoral reforms in order to make future elections fair and transparent in all respect, media reports said.

He made the statement during a high-level meeting with cabinet members and the political leadership of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) earlier in the day, Dawn online reported.

The premier said that after the judicial commission's report on the conduct of the 2013 parliamentary polls, there needs to be a way forward for further strengthening the democratic system.

The judicial commission was constituted earlier this year to probe Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) allegations of rigging in the 2013 general election, and concluded in its report that polls were in large part "organised and conducted fairly and in accordance with the law".

Sharif also directed all cabinet members and the senior political leadership of Pakistan PML-N to reach out to the masses and take them in confidence regarding the party's development-oriented vision, which would guide the country towards stability and prosperity.

He further said that it is now time to show magnanimity and political maturity by all stakeholders of democracy so that the nation's time is not wasted in frivolous disputes and petty squabbles.