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National Assembly approves bill limiting parliamentarians’ disqualification to five years

ISLAMABAD, June 25 (SABAH): The National Assembly on Sunday amended a law limiting the disqualification of a parliamentarian to a maximum of five years, paving the way for those barred for life from running for a public office.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) chief Jahangir Khan Tareen will be among those who benefit from the move.

The Supreme Court had disqualified both senior politicians in June and December 2017, respectively, after they were found to be dishonest under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution.

Senate, the upper house of the parliament had earlier this month approved the bill seeking amendments to Section 232 (Qualifications and Disqualifications) of the Election Act, 2017.

“Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provisions of this Act, any other law for the time being in force and Judgment, orders or decree of any court, including the Supreme Court and a High Court, the disqualification of a person to be elected, chosen, or to remain as a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) of 9 Provincial Assembly under Paragraph (1) of clause (1) of Article 62 of the Constitution shall be for a period not exceeding five years from the declaration by the court of law in that regard and such declaration shall be subject to the due process of law,” the bill reads.

With Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed President Arif Alvi out of the country due to Hajj, Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani has taken charge as the acting president and chances are that might approve the bill soon.

The house also approved another amendment to the law, allowing the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to announce the date for polls unilaterally, without the president’s approval.

“…the Commission shall by notification in the official gazette announce the date or dates, as the case may be, of the general elections,” the bill reads, amending Section 58 of the Election Act.

The bill also allows the election commission to make changes to the election programme after announcing the date, but it would have to do it in writing.