Bill allowing ECP to unilaterally announce election dates passed

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly in this city on Sunday approved a bill to amend the Elections Act 2017 in order to give the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) the authority to declare election dates on its own. Finance Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar introduced the bill.

The bill was introduced by Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Speaker of the National Assembly, and it received a majority vote. The amendments also give the ECP the authority to adjust the election schedule as necessary. The proposed change to Section 57(1) stated that the commission would call for the constituencies to elect their representatives and announce the date or dates of the general elections via notification in the official gazette.

The proposed amendment in Section 58 (1) suggested, notwithstanding anything contained in Section 57, the commission may, at any time, after the issuance of notification under sub-section (1) of that section, make such alterations in the elections programme announced in that notification for the different stages of the election or may issue a fresh election programme with the fresh poll date (s) as may, in its opinion to be recorded in writing, be necessary for the purposes of this Act.

Meanwhile, the bill approved also included an amendment to Section 232 (Qualifications and Disqualifications) of the Election Act, 2017.

As per the proposed amendment, disqualification of the lawmaker will be considered for 5 years where the tenure of the punishment is not specified in the constitution.

The disqualification of the person will be considered for five years on the orders of the Supreme Court or high courts.