ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice on Friday approved the ‘Election Bill 2017’ and sent it to the Senate for its approval.
Senator Javed Abbasi chaired the meeting of the committee at the Parliament.
The committee reviewed election bill clause by clause and the members recommended different amendments.
The law minister said that Election Commission (EC) was carrying out scrutiny of the assets of members of Parliament since 1976. The commission’s secretary said that the scrutiny of the assets was a continuous process.
After the approval of the bill from Senate, it would be again sent to the National Assembly (NA) and after bill’s approval from the assembly, it will become law.
The members also discussed clause by clause ‘Public Interest Bill 2017’ introduced by Senator Mohsin Leghari.
Senator Leghari said that nomination papers and objections on candidates for reserved seats of women should be filed in the relevant district. The members agreed that in the expenses of candidates, the expenditure of party or organisation should also be included.
The EC said that the commission wanted to control the election expenses. The members also agreed on the suggestion of Senator Saifullah Magsi that the time for filing objections on election expenses should be three months.
They also concurred with the suggestion of Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq that the old system of filing of annual expenses should be kept intact.
The law minister directed NADRA officials that the process for change of residential address on identity cards should be expedited.
The members also suggested measures for voter lists, delimitations, the official announcement of election results, polling station scheme and violation of the code of conduct.
The committee chairman appreciated the members for their keen interest in the legislation process.
The committee meeting was attended by Senator Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Saifullah Magsi, Ayesha Raza Farooq, Senator Mohsin Leghari, Federal Minister Zahid Hamid and officials of EC and NADRA.