President signs ordinance to make oath of elected MPs mandatory within stipulated timeframe

President Arif Alvi Wednesday signed Election Ordinance, 2021 under which amendment has been made to section 72 of the Election Act, 2017, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Under the new arrangement, it has been made binding on the newly elected members of assemblies to take the oath of their offices within 40 days of the ordinance taking effect.

Similarly, it (the ordinance) says that the elected representatives will have to take oath within 60 days of the first sitting of the newly elected assembly.

It is further laid down in the ordinance that in case of failure of members of the National Assembly, Senate or local government to take the oath of their offices within the stipulated time, their seats will be deemed to have fallen vacant.

President Alvi also signed the Pakistan Council of Research for Water Resources (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 under which section 16 of the Pakistan Council of Research for Water Resources Act 2007 has been amended.

Under the amendment, the council will be empowered to appoint employees for the better performance of the organisation. The council will also have the authority to hire the services of advisors and experts on contract.

Likewise, the president also signed the summary, recommending the appointment of Muhammad Saeedullah as Accountability Court, Rawalpindi judge on deputation.

He also signed the summary recommending action against Khawaja Shaukat Hussain, a grade-20 officer of National School of Public Policy, under the Civil Servant (E&D) Rules, 2020.

Reporter: Awais Kiani