Islamabad: Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice in its meeting, on Wednesday, has discussed several amendments to the Elections Bill 2017 proposed by senators Azam Khan Swati, Ayesha Raza Farooq and Murtaza Wahab.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator Javed Abbasi at the Parliament House and was attended by Senators Azam Swati, Ayesha Raza, Murtaza Wahab, Sassui Palejo, Mukhtar Dhamra, Saleem Zia, Saifullah Magsi, Law and Justice Minister Zahid Hamid and others.
The amendments discussed in the meeting included administrative and technical amendments as well as replacement of certain words and phrases to make the intention and purpose of the sections clear.
The members discussed whether the column asking for education details should remain a part of the nomination papers; whether wealth statement form should be added in addition to the assets and liabilities form; whether people with invalid/expired NICs be allowed to cast their vote or not; what should be the mechanism if two candidates request the same electoral symbol; what to do in case of delay in electoral process at a polling station should result in time extension to that polling station or whole constituency among other matters under the purview of the Bill.
The Bill will be discussed in the next meeting again to review the remaining amendments.
The chairperson and the members of the committee praised the efforts of the political parties whose legislators were part of the committee, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), NADRA and all other stakeholders involved in the drafting of this law. The committee decided to expedite the amendment consideration process and hold frequent meetings so that the Bill can be passed as early as possible and can be implemented in the general elections next year.
The status of The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2016 introduced by senators Sassui Palijo and Mukhtiar Ahmed Dhamra was also discussed.
Javed Abbasi, after hearing the movers and the committee members, decided that the matter will be referred to the Senate chairman for further decision.
The Committee deferred The Public Interest Disclosures Bill 2017 introduced by Law and Justice Minister Zahid Hamid till the next meeting.
