Bill proposes restrictions on independent candidates introduced in NA
Pakistan
Bill calls for restriction on independent lawmakers joining political parties after certain time
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The bill for more amendment to the Election Act 2017 was tabled in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
The bill named Election Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024 proposed that individuals who contested general election as independent candidate could not change their affidavit at a later stage to declare affiliation with any political party.
The ruling PML-N lawmaker Bilal Azhar Kayani presented the bill and it was handed over to the relevant standing committee.
According to the amendment, the party which has not provided the list of reserved seats could not be given reserved seats.
Two amendments would be introduced in the Election Amendment Act 2024 and they would come into effect immediately after approval.
"Provided further that an independent candidate shall no, be considered as the candidate of any political party if at later stage he files a statement duly signed and notarised stating that he contested the general elections as a candidate of the political party specified therein,” the bill said.
“Provided further that if any political party fails to submit its list for reserved seats within the aforesaid prescribed time period, it shall not be eligible for the quota in the reserved seats at later stage," the bill stated.
“Provided that if a candidate, before seeking allotment of a prescribed symbol, has not filed a declaration before the returning officer about his affiliation with a particular political party by submitting party certificate from the political party confirming that he is that party’s candidate, he shall be deemed to be considered as an independent candidate and not a candidate of any political party," the bill read.
