ECP rejects 13 clauses of Election (Amendment) Bill 2020

The Election Commission of Pakistan while rejecting 13 clauses of the present Election (Amendment) Act, 2020 has informed the federal government regarding its reservations over the legislation through a letter, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Reportedly, the ECP on Saturday decided to bring the matter to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s notice.

The ECP contacted the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs by writing a letter to the secretary parliamentary affairs and apprised the government of its reservations on the Election (Amendment) Bill, 2020 moved by Adviser to PM Zaheer-ud-Din Babar Awan which was passed by the lower house on June 10, 2021.

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The ECP said that many clauses of the Election (Amendment) Bill 2020, were in contravention of constitution. It pointed out that delimitations of constituencies based on voters instead of the population was a violation of the constitution. 

The election commission also said that during Senate elections, open voting instead of secret voting was also in conflict with the constitution and judgement of the Supreme Court. 

It’s the prerogative of the election commission in line with the guidelines of the constitution to prepare voters’ lists, it added and concluded that 13 clauses of the newly approved Election Bill were in contravention of the constitution.

Reporter Zeeshan Bhatti