Govt promulgates ordinance for Senate election through open ballot
Govt promulgates ordinance for holding Senate election through open ballot
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - President Dr. Arif Alvi has signed the Election Amendment Ordinance 2021, which will come into force with immediate effect. Under the ordinance, Senate elections can be held through open ballot.
According to details, the newly issued ordinance has been made subject to the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s opinion on the Presidential Reference.
Under the ordinance, section 122 of the Election Act 2017 has been amended. The ordinance says that a party chief will be able to request to see the vote and the ECP will be bound to show the vote to the party chief or their representative.
Earlier, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the ordinance for holding Senate elections through open ballot is a proof of panic, showing the government’s distrust in its own MPAs. Attempts are being made to make the Upper House elections controversial, he added.
He said the government has not had a serious discussion with any party. If the decision had been taken at the right time, legislation would have been passed. The government has not adopted a democratic method and is trying to deprive the people of their rights, said Bilawal.
