The National Assembly on Sunday adopted a bill seeking an amendment to the Elections Act 2017, aimed at limiting the disqualification of lawmakers to a maximum of five years.
The bill, presented by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the National Assembly, came into force immediately. The bill had already been passed by the Senate on June 16.
The bill includes an amendment to Section 232 (Disqualification on account of offenses) of the Election Act, 2017.
Any individual who is disqualified by a court ruling shall be excluded for a maximum of five years from the day the judgment is made public. The period of disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) cannot exceed five years.
“Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act, any other law for the time being in force and judgment, order or decree of any court, including the Supreme Court and a high court, the disqualification of a person to be elected, chosen or to remain as a member of the Parliament or provincial assembly under paragraph (f) of clause (1) of Article 62 of the Constitution shall be for a period not exceeding five years from the declaration of the court of law in that regard and such declaration shall be subject to the due process of law,” it stated.
