Election Act
A bill proposing additional changes to the Election Act of 2017 was introduced in the National Assembly on Tuesday, following a recommendation from the law minister.
This legislative move aims to address certain aspects of the election laws concerning independent candidates and their ability to join political parties after elections.
The bill was put forward by PML-N MNA Bilal Azhar Kayani during a private legislation session. The proposed amendments come in the wake of a recent Supreme Court ruling that granted more parliamentary seats to Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
This decision was seen as a significant blow to the coalition government, potentially altering the balance of power in the National Assembly.
According to the statement of objectives for the bill, neither the Constitution nor the Election Act of 2017 currently prohibits an independent candidate from joining a political party after the election if they had initially chosen not to.
The bill seeks to rectify this by preventing independent candidates from affiliating with a political party after the period specified in the Constitution for such decisions.
The bill proposes amendments to Sections 66 and 104 of the Election Act. Section 66, which deals with the requirement for candidates to file a certificate of party affiliation, would be modified to ensure that candidates must declare their party affiliation and provide a certificate from the party at the time of seeking a symbol.
If they fail to do so, they would be deemed independent candidates. This change aims to prevent candidates from switching affiliations after the elections and asserting themselves as party members.
In Section 104, which pertains to party lists for reserved seats, the bill proposes that if a political party fails to submit its list of candidates for reserved seats within the prescribed timeframe, it will forfeit its eligibility for those seats.
Additionally, the bill seeks to introduce a new section, 104A, which stipulates that once an independent candidate gives consent to join a political party, this decision cannot be revoked.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, who is also the law minister, emphasized the importance of referring the bill to the committee with a set timeframe. He highlighted that the bill also involves constitutional interpretation, which is currently under debate.
The bill was introduced following the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, which led to notifications for 39 PTI members and left 41 more pending.
The amendments are aimed at clarifying and strengthening the election process, ensuring that the political landscape remains fair and transparent.
The National Assembly’s discussion and potential approval of this bill could lead to significant changes in how election laws are implemented and interpreted, reflecting the government’s ongoing efforts to reform and stabilize the political system.
