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Election bill empowering caretaker setup sails through parliament

Election bill empowering caretaker setup sails through parliament

Pakistan

Election bill empowering caretaker setup sails through parliament

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The joint session of the Parliament on Wednesday passed the Election Act Amendment Bill 2023, which aims to empower the caretaker prime minister, despite the opposition from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

The amendment to Clause 2A of Section 230 of the Election Act, which was also opposed by PPP leader Raza Rabbani, empowered the caretaker prime minister.

Following the passage of the Election Act Bill, the caretaker prime minister will have increased financial powers. The caretaker government will be authorised to make necessary decisions for the country's economy, international organisations, and foreign governments, and enter into agreements.

Moreover, the joint session also approved an amendment to allow candidates to nominate three polling agents. Each candidate will be able to nominate three polling agents at a single polling station, with only one polling agent remaining inside the polling station. The presiding officer is now mandated to display the list of voters outside the polling station.

The ECP will be bound to publish details of the postal ballots issued before the elections on its website. If there is a difference of 5% in votes between the losing and winning candidates, a recount will be conducted. The recounting will be done by the returning officer in the presence of the candidates.

After the passage of the Election Act, the presiding officer will be required to immediately send a copy of the result to the Election Commission and the returning officer. Furthermore, a photo of the final result will be taken and sent to the returning officer and the election commission. In case of no internet facility, the presiding officer will be expected to personally deliver the actual result and provide the results by 2am. Delays must be explained with a concrete reason.

The Election Act Bill also includes an obligation for Nadra to provide the record of new identity cards to the election commission. Complaints will be addressed by the election commission one day before polling. Failure to take the oath will result in the seat being considered vacant.

In addition to educational qualification, the Senate technocrat seat will now require 20 years of relevant experience.

Moreover, five days before the polling day, the polling station will not be changed. Candidates will be allowed to use their already existing bank account for election expenses. Constituencies will be based on an equal number of registered voters.

Constituencies will be announced four months before the election schedule, and the number of registered voters in all constituencies will be equal. Complaints against delimitation can be made within 30 days.

According to the Election Act Bill, if the nomination is rejected or withdrawn, the fee will be refunded to the candidate, and the candidate will be able to object to the establishment of the polling station on valid grounds, within 3 days of the final results, the political parties must provide the final priority list of the specific seats.

Also, the presiding officer will be bound to provide voting facilities to the disabled, the election tribunal will decide on the petition filed by the candidate within 180 days, and the decision on the violation of the code of conduct should be taken within 7 days instead of 15 days. Criminal action will be taken against the presiding and returning officers for negligence. In case of non-conduct of intra-party elections, the political party will be fined Rs2 lacs.

 

 

Related Topics
Election Commission
Prime Minister of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan Politics



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