ISLAMABAD -UNS: A meeting of the Parliamentary Committee to examine the amendments proposed by the Election Commission of Pakistan in the Election Act 2017 was held on Wednesday.
The Committee examined the amendments proposed by the Election Commission of Pakistan in the light of the Constitutional scheme especially with regard to powers of the President of Pakistan and Governors of the Provinces as envisaged in Articles 48, 58, 105 and 112 of the Constitution of Pakistan. The Committee stressed the need to ensure that amendments to the Elections Act shall be subject to the Constitution. For this reason, it was agreed to insert the term “subject to the Constitution” in the proposed sections 57(1) and 58 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
The Committee also discussed the matter of impediments in exercise of contempt powers of the ECP. Passing legislation to protect the dignity of the Election Commission was urged. It was also noted that some other issues in the Election Act, 2017 need to be addressed , however, keeping in view the limited scope of this Committee the Committee referred other issues to the Parliamentary Committee constituted by the Speaker for lection reforms.
Chaired by MNA Syed Naveed Qamar the meeting; was attended by Senator Kamran Murtaza, Senator Taj Haider, MNA Muhammad Afzal Khan Dhanddla, MNA Engr. Sabir Hussain Kaim Khani and senior officers of the Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and the Election Commission of Pakistan .
