Strengthening democracy: Senate amends election laws
CNIC made mandatory to register, cast vote; severe penalty for corrupt election commission employees.
ISLAMABAD:
In a bid to bring election laws in conformity with the 18th amendment, the Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that makes computerised national identity cards (CNIC) mandatory for not only casting a vote but also for getting registered in the electoral list.
This law comes about after amendments to the Electoral Rolls Act 1974 and the Representation of the People Act 1976. Following these amendments, the chief election commissioner (CEC) will have no discretionary powers and all major decisions would have to be approved by the entire election commission, which includes four members from each province and a CEC.
Old identity cards provided under the National Registration Act of 1973 will no longer be considered valid proof of identity for voting.
Under a new amendment in section 30 of the Representation of Peoples Act 1976, any employee of the election commission will be punishable with imprisonment if he is found to be in breach of the security or integrity of information contained in the electoral rolls database or publishes the information without being authorised by the commission. Such an employee could be imprisoned for up to five years or slapped a fine of up to a million rupees.
The Election Tribunal has been authorised to appoint a local commission for recording evidence for speedy trial in cases related to polls.
After its adoption by the Senate, the bill will be sent to the National Assembly for approval before the president signs it into law.
In Tuesday’s session, some Opposition Senators raised the issue of not filling vacancies in the election commission which they called a hurdle in the smooth functioning of the commission. Responding to points of orders by members, Law Minister Babar Awan said that the government has constituted a parliamentary committee for establishment of the election commission and the National Assembly Secretariat has been requested in writing to arrange its meeting.
Minister for Interprovincial Coordination Raza Rabbani said that parliamentary committee members have to elect their chairman first. “The speaker should call a meeting for electing a chairman for the parliamentary committee so that it can start functioning,” he said.
Professor Khurshid said that names of commission members are to be initiated by the prime minister in consultation with the opposition leader. He said that the election commission should be prepared at all times as midterm polls could be announced at any time.
But Awan ruled out the possibility of early elections and said that general elections will be held in 2013.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 30th, 2011.
In a bid to bring election laws in conformity with the 18th amendment, the Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that makes computerised national identity cards (CNIC) mandatory for not only casting a vote but also for getting registered in the electoral list.
This law comes about after amendments to the Electoral Rolls Act 1974 and the Representation of the People Act 1976. Following these amendments, the chief election commissioner (CEC) will have no discretionary powers and all major decisions would have to be approved by the entire election commission, which includes four members from each province and a CEC.
Old identity cards provided under the National Registration Act of 1973 will no longer be considered valid proof of identity for voting.
Under a new amendment in section 30 of the Representation of Peoples Act 1976, any employee of the election commission will be punishable with imprisonment if he is found to be in breach of the security or integrity of information contained in the electoral rolls database or publishes the information without being authorised by the commission. Such an employee could be imprisoned for up to five years or slapped a fine of up to a million rupees.
The Election Tribunal has been authorised to appoint a local commission for recording evidence for speedy trial in cases related to polls.
After its adoption by the Senate, the bill will be sent to the National Assembly for approval before the president signs it into law.
In Tuesday’s session, some Opposition Senators raised the issue of not filling vacancies in the election commission which they called a hurdle in the smooth functioning of the commission. Responding to points of orders by members, Law Minister Babar Awan said that the government has constituted a parliamentary committee for establishment of the election commission and the National Assembly Secretariat has been requested in writing to arrange its meeting.
Minister for Interprovincial Coordination Raza Rabbani said that parliamentary committee members have to elect their chairman first. “The speaker should call a meeting for electing a chairman for the parliamentary committee so that it can start functioning,” he said.
Professor Khurshid said that names of commission members are to be initiated by the prime minister in consultation with the opposition leader. He said that the election commission should be prepared at all times as midterm polls could be announced at any time.
But Awan ruled out the possibility of early elections and said that general elections will be held in 2013.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 30th, 2011.