The bill was passed with the support of eight members, while four members opposed it, and MNA Shahid Akhtar of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) abstained from voting.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar clarified that the bill addresses issues related to independent members joining political parties and the allocation of reserved seats, stating that the matter of independent members joining any political party and the issue of reserved seats is clear.
However, Ali Muhammad Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) criticized the involvement of the Law Minister, emphasizing that the bill is a private member’s initiative and questioning the minister’s advocacy for it.
The bill, introduced by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) legislator Bilal Azhar Kiani on Tuesday, proposed amendments to Sections 66 and 104 of the Election Act 2017.
What Does the Bill Propose?
The bill suggests amendments to Sections 66 and 104 of the Elections Act 2017, proposing that individuals who contest general elections as independent candidates cannot later change their affidavit to declare affiliation with any political party. Key provisions include:
- Independent Candidates and Party Affiliation: The bill stipulates that independent candidates cannot change their status to affiliate with a political party after the election. It specifically states that an independent candidate will not be recognized as a party candidate if they later declare such an affiliation.
- Reserved Seats and Political Parties: It mandates that political parties must submit their list for reserved seats within a specified period. Failure to do so would disqualify them from securing seats under the reserved quota.
- Candidate Declaration for Party Affiliation: Candidates must submit a declaration of affiliation with a political party before seeking an election symbol. If they fail to do so, they will be considered independent candidates.
The bill, once enacted, will be retroactively applied from the commencement of the Elections Act, 2017.
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