PPP’s Qamar to decide on empowering ECP on polls

Tasked with addressing amendments to articles 57, 58 of Election Act 2017

ISLAMABAD:

Naveed Qamar of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has been elected as the convener of the Parliamentary Committee tasked with addressing amendments to articles 57 and 58 of the Election Act 2017, which empowers the electoral watchdog to announce the polls date.

The committee held its first meeting, which was attended by members, including MNA Sabir Hussain Kaimkhani, senators Taj Haider, Kamran Murtaza, and Mohsin Shah Nawaz Ranjha while Ali Zafar was absent.

Senator Haider proposed MNA Qamar as the committee chairman, and the proposal was unanimously approved by the members.

Qamar, upon assuming the chairmanship, highlighted that the committee was formed in response to a letter from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) regarding two amendments to the Election Act 2017.

The Ministry of Law officials informed the committee that the proposed amendments by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja in articles 57 and 58 of the Election Act 2017, were under consideration.

Senator Haider expressed the opinion that completely ignoring the president might not be appropriate.

The committee convener emphasised the need to carefully review the proposed amendments to ensure they did not come into conflict with the Constitution of Pakistan. The committee also highlighted the importance of thorough review by all members. The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for April 19 at 2:30pm.

The proposed amendments to sections 57-1 and 58 of the Elections Act 2017, recommended by the electoral watchdog, aimed to empower the electoral body to change the date and schedule of the polls, thus curtailing the authority of the president in these matters. The parliamentary affairs ministry prepared a draft in connection with the proposed amendments to the Elections Act.

Currently, Section 57-1 of the act states: "The President shall announce the date or dates of the general elections after consultation with the [Election] Commission [of Pakistan]."

The proposed amendment would grant the sole authority to announce the polls date to the ECP, excluding the role of the president. The objective of the amendment was to authorise the ECP as the sole body responsible for announcing the date for the general elections.