Senate passes Bill
ISLAMABAD: Senate today approved the Bill empowering the Election Commission of Pakistan to announce the date for elections.
State Minister Shahadat Awan tabled the Bill in the Senate to allow the ECP to announce an election date and make changes to the election schedule.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) opposed the bill.
Section 57-1 stated that the ECP would be authorized to announce the date for the general elections.
Section 58 states: “The Commission may, at any time after the issue of the notification under sub-section (1) of that section [57-1], make such alterations in the Election Program announced in that notification for the different stages of the election or may issue a fresh Election Programme as may, in its opinion to be recorded in writing, be necessary for the purposes of this Act.”
Legislators Disqualification period
The bill also included an amendment to Section 232 (Qualifications and Disqualifications) of the Election Act, 2017. The amendment envisaged the disqualification period of a person not exceeding five years if the court did not mention the duration in the judgment.
Senator Hafiz Abdul Kareem presented the bill which stated that anyone convicted under a judgment, order or decree of the Supreme Court, high court or any court would be disqualified for a maximum of five years. The disqualification date will start from the date of the judgment.
Senator Dilawar Khan pointed out that three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif became a victim of this law that must be modified.
According to Article 62, Clause 1F, anyone would not be disqualified for over five years and that person should be eligible to become a member of parliament or provincial assembly.
