The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led federal government has proposed 54 amendments to the Election Act 2017 in an effort to empower the caretaker government and enhance transparency in the electoral process. The amendments aim to grant the interim setup additional powers to make important decisions related to the country’s economy. Furthermore, the legislation seeks to empower the caretaker government to engage and sign agreements with international institutions.
It has been reported that the bill containing these proposed amendments will be presented in the joint session of parliament on Wednesday. This move comes amid speculations that the ruling PML-N is working to build a consensus among coalition partners to appoint Finance Minister Ishaq Dar as the caretaker prime minister.
In an interview with a local TV channel, Ishaq Dar confirmed that amendments to the Election Act 2017 would enable the interim ruler to make significant decisions. He mentioned section 230 of the election law and emphasized that it would not be appropriate to hand over the country’s governance for day-to-day decisions during the caretaker government’s term.
Earlier, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar addressed the joint session of parliament and explained that the proposed amendments in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Bill were formulated in consultation with all political parties to ensure transparency in the electoral process. He rejected the notion that the government was secretly amending the election act and stated that a special committee led by Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, with representation from various political parties, held several meetings to discuss the amendments thoroughly. The bill’s clauses were examined and discussed, and the amendments were prepared with consensus from all political parties, reflecting a harmonious approach.
The government aims to pass all pending bills before the National Assembly completes its constitutional term on August 12. This move is part of the government’s efforts to address concerns over election transparency and bolster the legitimacy of the electoral process in the country.