In a significant development, the National Assembly on Tuesday approved a bill proposing amendments to the Elections Act 2017, aiming to bar lawmakers from changing their party affiliation. This legislative move faced strong resistance from the opposition benches, who labeled it “unconstitutional.”
The bill, tabled by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Bilal Azhar Kiyani last month, had previously secured approval from the NA Parliamentary Affairs Committee. The committee’s approval came with the support of eight members, while four members opposed it, and Shahid Akhtar, a Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) MNA, abstained from voting.
The proposed amendments will prevent individuals who contested the general election as independent candidates from later changing their affidavit to declare affiliation with any political party. The bill will become law once it receives approval from the Senate and the president’s assent.
This legislation, once enacted, could potentially reverse the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s recent return to the parliament. The PTI had been reinstated in the assemblies following the Supreme Court’s July 12 ruling, which declared the Imran Khan-founded party eligible for reserved seats.
The opposition’s outcry highlights the contentious nature of the bill, with critics arguing that it undermines democratic principles and restricts political freedom. However, supporters of the legislation assert that it will promote political stability and integrity within the parliamentary system.
As the bill moves to the Senate for further deliberation, the political landscape of Pakistan watches closely, anticipating the potential implications of this significant legislative change.
