ISLAFNMMAABD: The federal cabinet has approved a summary to promulgate an ordinance to make an amendment to the Election Act, 2017 to end the secret ballot in the Senate elections in order to bring transparency to the electoral process for the upper house.
The approval was taken from the cabinet through a circulation summary because there is not much time left for the electoral reforms as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced to issue the schedule for the Senate elections on February 11. Sources said that the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) drafted the ordinance which has been sent to PM Imran for approval.
The summary and proposals are part of a larger set of electoral reforms that were tabled in parliament to legislate on the matter to ensure transparency in the electoral process; however, the efforts went unsuccessful due to a protest in the Assembly by the opposition.
On January 2, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Gulzar Ahmed had warned that the Supreme Court will give its opinion if the government does not withdraw the presidential reference regarding open ballot voting in Senate polls.
The SC bench, headed by CJP Gulzar Ahmed, heard the case while the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Jawed Khan was present on the government’s behalf.
“The court has to give its opinion on whether the constitution needs to be amended or not to change the secret balloting method,” he said. He also asked, “What is so important about open and secret balloting and why are others not agreeing?”
Responding to the question, the attorney general said, “Such an act would come under corrupt practice and a member of the assembly is disqualified under the law for corrupt practices.”
Meanwhile, according to sources, the Opposition parties have decided to oppose the constitutional amendment being introduced soon. The leaders of PPP, PML-N and JUI-F discussed the matter after the government announced to introduce a bill in this regard.
