Islamabad: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Bilal Azhar Kiyani has introduced the Election Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the National Assembly, proposing significant changes to the current electoral framework. One of the key amendments suggests that individuals who contest general elections as independent candidates will no longer be allowed to alter their status post-election to affiliate with any political party.
The proposed amendment states: “Provided further that an independent candidate shall not be considered as the candidate of any political party if at a later stage he files a statement duly signed and notarized stating that he contested the general elections as a candidate of the political party specified therein.”
This clause aims to prevent any post-election affiliations that might undermine the initial choice of voters who elected them as independents.
The bill was tabled amidst strong opposition from rival political factions. Despite the heated debate, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq referred the bill to the relevant standing committee for further deliberation.
In addition to the restrictions on independent candidates, the amendment bill also proposes stringent measures for political parties regarding the submission of lists for reserved seats. It mandates that political parties failing to submit their lists within the stipulated timeframe to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will forfeit their eligibility for the reserved seats.
The bill asserts its immediate enforceability and retrospective application, stating, “This Act shall come into force at once and shall be deemed to have taken effect on and from the commencement of the Elections Act, 2017.” This retrospective clause underscores the bill’s intention to address past and present electoral anomalies.
The tabling of the Election Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, marks a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s legislative process, aiming to enhance the integrity and transparency of the electoral system. As the bill proceeds through the legislative process, it is expected to spark further debate and scrutiny from all political quarters.
