ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led federal government proposed 54 amendments to the Election Act 2017. It aims to empower the interim setup and ensure electoral transparency.
The amendments include granting additional powers to the interim setup for crucial decisions related to the country’s economy. It seeks to enable the caretaker government to engage with international institutions through agreements.
The bill will be reportedly presented in the joint session of parliament on Wednesday.
Amid speculations that the ruling PML-N is seeking a consensus among coalition partners on appointing Ishaq Dar as the caretaker prime minister. In an interview, Dar confirmed that the interim ruler would have the authority to make important decisions by amending the Election Act 2017.
Dar affirmed that the government should not be making day-to-day decisions and should not be governing the country under section 230 of the election law. He emphasized the need for transparency.
Addressing the joint session of parliament, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar stated that the proposed amendments in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Bill were finalized in consultation with all political parties to ensure transparency in the electoral process.
Tarar informed the joint sitting about a special committee led by Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, comprising representatives from various political parties. The committee held multiple meetings for thorough deliberations on the amendments.
The discussions saw active participation from members, and the final report included their written submissions.
All political parties formulated the amendments with consensus, reflecting a harmonious approach, as emphasized by Tarar.
Allies, opposition oppose empowering Caretaker setup
The introduction of additional amendments to the Election Act proposed increased powers for the interim setup. It sparked outrage among government allies and opposition members during the joint session of Parliament on Tuesday. Raza Rabbani from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) raised objections, expressing concerns about the lack of member consultation. He also questioned the legitimacy of these amendments.
Rabbani noted similarities with past legislation and worried that the proposed changes might reduce the joint session’s significance. He emphasized the need for transparency and accountability. He stated that without access to the amendments for comparison, the process lacks credibility.
Senator Kamran Murtaza from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan (Fazl) expressed frustration, feeling that their presence in Parliament was becoming symbolic, with limited influence on the agenda.
Senator Ali Zafar from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) passionately appealed to the NA speaker. He urged him not to further degrade Parliament’s standing. He expressed worries that the leaders were treating the Parliament as mere followers, without making them aware of the direction they were being led.
Following the contentious session, NA Speaker Ashraf announced the continuation of the joint session on Wednesday, deferring voting on bills with amendments to allow further consideration. PTI women lawmakers also staged a protest after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif referred to them derogatorily as ‘garbage.’
