ISLAMABAD: The amendment in the Election Act 2017 and the bill for the privileges of the leader of the house, opposition leaders, and members have been approved in the Senate.
A meeting was held in the Senate under the chairmanship of Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, in which Minister of State Shahadat Awan presented a bill to amend the Election Act, 2017, which was approved by a majority vote.
According to the bill, clauses 57 and 58 of the Election Act have been amended, according to which the authority of the date of the election has been withdrawn from the President, and the Election Commission will announce the new schedule and the date of the general elections while also amending the election program.
In the meeting, the bill related to disqualification under Article 62(1) (f) of the Constitution was also approved, under which the disqualification will be for a maximum period of five years. According to the text of the bill, the disqualification shall not exceed five years for the crime for which the period of punishment is not specified in the constitution.
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The procedure, manner, and period of eligibility and disqualification shall be as provided in Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution and where no procedure, manner, or period is provided for in the Constitution, the provisions of this Act shall apply.
According to the bill, a person convicted under the judgment, order, or decree of the Supreme Court, High Court, or any other court will be disqualified for five years from the date of the judgment. The Election Act 2017 Amendment Bill was opposed by PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami in the Senate.
