18th Amend made ECP ‘autonomous’

Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Wednesday said that the election process was made credible after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) became fully autonomous through the 18th Constitutional Amendment.

“The 18th Amendment also strengthened the federation as well provided autonomy to the provinces,” the minister said while addressing a session ‘Constitution and Representation: Ensuring Free and Fair Election’.

He said that the ECP had the authority to fix the date for elections, besides organising free, fair, and transparent polls.

“The ECP and the high courts have equal authority and power,” he added.

The PTI government, he said, had introduced the electoral reforms amendment bill having biometric and e-voting provisions. However, it was cancelled through an amendment in May 2022 by parliament, passing the original bill due to possible reservations of rigging in the coming elections, he added.