NA body recommends approval of Election Amendment Bill 2019

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs on Friday recommended the House to approve ‘The Elections (Amendment) Bill 2019’, ARY News reported.

The committee also approved amendments in the bill for de-limitations of constituencies; however, suggestions mooted by the Jamaat-e-Islami were rejected by the body.

The standing committee sought report from the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs regarding public complaints. The NA committee was also briefed on the performance of the ministry.

Read: National Assembly passes Elections (Amendment) Bill 2018

It was told during the briefing that the Election Commission of Pakistan was also given facilities regarding parliamentary matters. The officials told the standing committee that the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs play its due role in resolving public complaints.

On March 4, the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2018’ was passed by the National Assembly. The bill moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan will amend the elections act, 2017.

The bill aimed at authorising the election commission to constitute a bench comprising three or more members of the commission to hear and decide complaints, applications, petitions or appeals.

The bill also authorises the commission to constitute more benches to effectively dispose of higher number of such complaints.

In October 2018, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Latif Khosa had said one clause of the Election Bill 2017, that allowed an individual disqualified to be member of the parliament or to hold office of a political party, was clearly in clash with the Constitution of Pakistan.