Parliamentary Body seeks replies from Attorney General, ECP

A parliamentary committee sought explanation from the Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Attorney General over a constitutional amendment bill introduced by the government to legalize by-elections held by a constitutionally incomplete ECP.

A meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice was held in Parliament House with Begam Nasim Akhtar Chaudhry in the chair to consider the Constitutional Amendment Bill (20th Amendment).

Committees’ Chairperson Begam Nasim Akhtar said that both the officials have been summoned in the next meeting on January 30 to explain objects and reasons of the bill and the basis for moving the
constitutional amendment.

Earlier, the government giving objects and reasons of the bill had mentioned a SC judgment of April 25, 2011 wherein directions were given to ECP and the federation for constitution of the commission in
accordance with the amended provision of the constitution through the18th Amendment.

In the 20^th Amendment, the government has proposed amendment to the Article 219 of the Constitution related to “duties of the commission” through insertion of new provision.

“Provided always that till such time the members of the Commission are appointed in accordance with Article 218(2), the Commissioner shall remain charged with the duties enumerated in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Article.”

Meanwhile the committee approved another bill that provides oath of office and terms of office including salary, allowances and privileges of the Members, Election Commission of Pakistan [The Members, Election Commission (Oath of office, term, salary, allowances, perks and privileges) Bill, 2011].

The PML-N proposed an amendment of increasing the term of ECP members from proposed two-year to five-year, which was also approved.

The bill was introduced by Law  Minister Maula Bakhsh Chandio that proposed the commission members will all be retired rather than serving members of the superior judiciary as was the earlier practice, to have a two-year term each and be “entitled to the same salary, allowances, perks and privileges as admissible to a judge of the high court.”

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Jan 21 2012. Filed under National, Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.