PCER adopts election bill 2017 to make electoral process free, fair

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary body on Friday adopted Elections Bill 2017 aimed at making the electoral process free, fair and transparent.

Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms (PCER) has merged eight existing laws relating to elections in the Elections Bill 2017 by signing its report at a meeting in Islamabad.

These include Electoral Rolls Act 1974, Delimitation of Constituencies Act 1974, Senate Election Act 1975; Representation of the People Act 1976, Election Commission Order 2002, Conduct of General Elections Order 2002, Political Parties Order 2002 and Allocation of Symbols Order 2002.

Major reforms envisaged in the bill include strengthening of the Election Commission of Pakistan, which would be fully independent and autonomous. It has been delegated powers of the high court for specific directions, administrative powers to control transfer of election officials and disciplinary action against them, full financial powers and powers to make rules without prior approval of the president.

The commission would prepare a comprehensive action plan six months before the elections specifying all legal and administrative measures for the conduct of elections.

It would establish a transparent Result Management System for expeditious counting, compilation and dissemination of the election results.