Islamabad: On Tuesday, it was revealed that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led federal government has put forth 54 proposed amendments to the Election Act 2017. The main objectives of these amendments are to strengthen the caretaker government and ensure transparency during the electoral process.
The suggested changes include granting the interim setup additional authority to make crucial decisions pertaining to the country’s economy. Additionally, the proposed legislation aims to empower the caretaker government to engage with international institutions and enter into agreements with them.
According to sources from Geo News, the bill is scheduled to be presented in the joint session of parliament on the following day, which is Wednesday.
These developments come amidst speculations that the ruling PML-N is working to reach a consensus among its coalition partners regarding the candidacy of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for the position of caretaker prime minister.
Ishaq Dar, in an interview with a local TV channel, expressed that the Election Act 2017 would be amended to enable the interim ruler to make important decisions. He confirmed that section 230 of the election law would indeed be amended, stressing that the governance of the country should not be focused solely on day-to-day matters for three months. He believed that the public should be kept informed about this matter, as it would eventually come to light.
Earlier during the joint session of parliament, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar addressed the house and stated that the proposed amendments to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Bill were formulated after consulting with all political parties, with the goal of ensuring transparency in the electoral process.
Tarar expressed concerns about the transparency of elections, highlighting that presiding officers would hold the election results for a few days, which raised questions about the fairness of the process.
Furthermore, Tarar urged the passing of all pending bills by the legislature, as the constitutional term of the National Assembly is set to conclude on August 12.
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