PPP's Babar advocates compulsory voting.

ISLAMABAD -- Former Senator Farhatullah Babar expressed his reservations about the likelihood of the general elections taking place in the last week of January 2024, emphasizing that it appears probable but not certain.

Babar, a prominent figure in the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), strongly advocated for ending the involvement of the military establishment in political and electoral matters.

He reiterated this point during a consultative session organized by the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) in Islamabad, where the focus was on ensuring free and fair general elections.

The discussion brought together a diverse group of experts and stakeholders, including legal scholars, politicians, members of civil society, media representatives, and academics.

They gathered to address the challenges and potential solutions in the context of democratic elections in Pakistan.As the president of the PPP's human rights cell, Babar proposed the exploration of compulsory voting and the introduction of a 'None of the Above' (NOTA) option to enhance the democratic process.

He also stressed the need for an independent investigation into the incidents of May 9, the failures of the Result Transmission System (RTS), and the ongoing necessity for electoral reforms.

Furthermore, Babar pointed out the critical concerns related to the participation of minorities and the manipulation of election results through social media, particularly by state institutions.

He called for a serious discussion on...