ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has rejected amendments made in Election Act Bill 2021, terming them as unconstitutional and against basic spirit of the law under which it has been entrusted responsibility to conduct free, fair and transparent elections in the country.
ECP is an independent constitutional body and Pakistan Tehreek- e- Insaf (PTI) government has introduced amendments in Election Bill Act 2021 basically to cut down its powers and make a subservient body with no authority to challenge any wrongdoings in elections .
ECP held a meeting with its chairman Raja Sultan Sikander in the chair here on Tuesday with one point agenda of taking cognizance of the recent amendments introduced in Election Act Bill 2021.
An official handout issued here by ECP said “ The meeting considered recent amendments in Election Bill Act 2021 for which ECP has already filed its point of view through the national stranding committee”.
The handout said ECP expresses serious concern over non- inclusion of its input in the proceeding of the standing committee that could avoid any misunderstanding on the issur with the treasury benches.
It noted some amendments particularly specific to preparation of electoral lists and powers for their review are not only ultra -constitutional, but also negation of the basic concept of the rule of law. ECP said under clause 222, it has independent powers to function without any fear and coercion to discharge its constitutional duty for preparation of electoral lists and when required under the law to have its review without any intervention.
ECP clarified that under no circumstance, the powers entrusted it under the constitutional can not be withdrawn or undermined for any reasons.
Under the new amendments, ECP’s specific powers have been withdrawn and their inclusion in the bill will obstruct functioning of ECP, the handout added.
ECP also rejected amendment in Election Act 2017 (section 122) of the constitution for holding senate elections under open balloting system rather than secret balloting.
PTI government is working on amendments relating to holding general elections as well as senate elections to hold them in a transparent manner.
ECP also noted that electronic voting machine review disclosed the machines to be used for next elections do have major issues which would be discussed in next meeting scheduled for June 7, 2021.
