In a significant and contentious move, the Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the National Assembly approved a bill on Wednesday that seeks to amend the Elections Act 2017. The proposed changes aim to prevent lawmakers from changing their political affiliations after being elected.
The bill passed with the support of eight committee members, while four opposed it, and one member, Shahid Akhtar of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), abstained from voting.
Law Minister’s Stance and Committee Dynamics
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar emphasized the clarity of the matter regarding independent members joining political parties and the issue of reserved seats. However, Ali Muhammad Khan from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) challenged the law minister’s involvement, arguing that this is a private member’s bill and should not be advocated by the minister.
The bill, introduced by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Bilal Azhar Kiyani on Tuesday, proposes amendments to Sections 66 and 104 of the Election Act, 2017.
Key Provisions of the Bill
1. Restriction on Independent Candidates:
The bill proposes that individuals who contested the general elections as independent candidates cannot later change their affidavit to declare affiliation with any political party. Specifically, the bill states:
“An independent candidate shall not be considered a candidate of any political party if, at a later stage, they file a notarized statement declaring that they contested the general elections as a candidate of a specified political party.”
2. Reserved Seats Submission Deadline:
The bill also targets political parties that fail to submit their list of reserved seats within the prescribed time. According to the proposed amendment:
“If any political party fails to submit its list for reserved seats within the prescribed time period, it shall not be eligible for the quota in the reserved seats at a later stage.”
3. Declaration of Party Affiliation:
Another significant change involves the requirement for candidates to declare their political party affiliation before seeking the allocation of an election symbol. The bill states:
“If a candidate, before seeking allotment of a prescribed symbol, has not filed a declaration before the returning officer about their affiliation with a particular political party by submitting a party certificate from the political party confirming their candidacy, they shall be deemed an independent candidate and not a candidate of any political party.”
The bill further clarifies that these amendments will come into force immediately and will be retroactive from the commencement of the Elections Act, 2017.
Implications and Reactions
The bill’s approval has sparked a heated debate, with supporters arguing that it will bring more stability and transparency to the political system. They believe it will prevent the practice of “floor crossing,” where lawmakers switch allegiances for personal or political gain, thereby maintaining the integrity of the election process.
Opponents, however, see the bill as an attempt to undermine the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that allowed PTI to regain its reserved seats in parliament. They argue that the bill is a politically motivated move to weaken opposition parties and manipulate the composition of the National Assembly.