The National Assembly Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs on Friday asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) secretary and attorney general for an explanation over a bill introduced by the federal government to legalise actions of the chief election commissioner during the time when the ECP was incomplete.
The parliamentary panel asked the chief law officer and ECP’s representative to appear in the next meeting and apprise committee members about the 20th Amendment bill. “We have asked the government to give us details of Supreme Court orders referred in statement of objects and reasons of the bill as the basis for moving the constitutional amendment,” committee member Anusha Rehman said. The statements of objects and reasons of the bill had mentioned a SC judgment of April 25, 2011 wherein directions were given to the ECP and the federation for constitution of the commission in accordance with the amended provision of the constitution through the 18th Amendment.
The government had proposed amendment in Article 219 of the constitution that relates to “duties of the commission” through insertion of new proviso: “Provided always that till such time the members of the commission are appointed in accordance with article 218(2), the commissioner shall remain charged with the duties enumerated in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this article.”
The committee approved the bill that provides oath of office and terms of office including salary, allowances and privileges of ECP members, [The Members, Election Commission (Oath of office, term, salary, allowances, perks and privileges) Bill, 2011].