ISLAMABAD – Despite resistance from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the National Assembly approved the Election Act Amendment Bill by a majority vote on Tuesday.
As the session began with Speaker Ayaz Sadiq in the chair, Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNAs Bilal Azhar Kayani and Zeb Jaffar introduced the Election Act Amendment Bill. The opposition members rose from their seats and began protesting and sloganeering.
They gathered in front of the speaker’s dais and tore up copies of the law, chanting “bill rejected,” “attack on judiciary and democracy rejected,” and condemning the administration.
The amendment states that “a candidate who does not submit the party certificate prior to obtaining the election symbol will be considered an independent candidate.” If the list of candidates for reserved seats is not submitted by the deadline, no political party will be eligible for those seats.”
It further states that any candidate’s declaration of political party affiliation is irrevocable.
Sahibzada Sibghatullah of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) submitted a change to the draft bill, but Law Minister Azam Tarar objected, and the chamber rejected it by a majority vote.
PTI’s Ali Muhammad Khan also suggested a change to the Election Act, which was rejected by the parliament after the law minister objected.
Later, in an address to the House, Ali Muhammad Khan called the modification to the Election Act unconstitutional and questioned how the party could be robbed of its Supreme Court-granted rights.
“The Election Act Amendment Bill is a politically motivated attempt to deprive the PTI of reserved seats,” the minister stated.
The Supreme Court recognized the PTI as a political party and our claim [to reserved seats], he added, adding that he had raised the issue with the Standing Committee.
The PTI’s symbol [bat] was taken from the poll papers, yet the masses still voted for the party, he said.
Ali Muhammad stated that the PTI would file an appeal with the Supreme Court against the legislation, which would be rejected because it is not legislation but rather an expression of a political party’s fascist mentality.
He claimed that parliament was used to attack the Supreme Court through this legislation.
According to Law Minister Tarar, 81 SIC members took their oaths. But now they claim to be members of another party. He instructed them to stick to the point.
The minister stated that the goal of the modification is to clarify the election law.
Barister Gohar
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Chairman of the PTI, condemned the measure as violating the constitution and the rule of law. The PTI’s election symbol was removed as part of a plot.
He claimed that the PTI won with a two-thirds majority. They constituted government by interfering with Form 45, he said.
They are the losers; even Nawaz Sharif cannot show his Form 45 and claim victory.
According to the PTI head, this is the eighth piece of legislation passed by this legislature. They are attempting to take reserved seats, he continued.
Barrister Gohar predicted that the existing government would face the same fate as Hasina Wajid [of Bangladesh]. He advised Shehbaz Sharif to call Hasina Wajid and ask her how to depart [the country].
Resolution Against India
The house also passed a motion condemning India for depriving Kashmiris of special status by altering the Constitution overwhelmingly.
On August 5, 2019, the Narendra Modi-led government invalidated Article 370, depriving Kashmir of its special status, and annexed the valley under unlawful occupation.
