Joint Parliament approves bill regarding election reforms, NAB ordinance

Parliament's joint session Thursday passed the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2022, and National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2022, returned by President Arif Alvi.

The election amendment bill has abolished the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in polls, while the NAB bill has formulated a post-retirement procedure for its chairman, among other changes.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarrar presented both the bills, which the president had returned to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif as he "was not informed" about the legislative proposal under Article 46 before they were tabled, reported 24NewsHD TV channel..

But after the joint sitting's nod, the bills will be sent once again to the president for approval, but if he does not sign them within 10 days, it will be considered that his assent has been given.

Article 75(2) reads: “When the president has returned a bill to the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament), it shall be reconsidered by the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) in joint sitting and, if it is again passed, with or without amendment, by the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament), by the votes of the majority of the members of both Houses present and voting, it shall be deemed for the purposes of the Constitution to have been passed by both Houses and shall be presented to the president, and the president shall give his assent within 10 days, failing which such assent shall be deemed to have been given.”

It is pertinent to mention that earlier, the bill was passed by both Houses of Parliament in last month and sent to President Dr Arif Ali for his assent to make it law.

But, the President returned the bills to the government, observing that the amendments were passed by parliament in haste and without due diligence.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi rejected President’s observations and objections by terming them as baseless.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said legislation is sole prerogative of parliament and President cannot dictate the legislature.

The Joint Session of both the Houses of the parliament offered fateha for the departed soul of Aamir Liaquat Hussain.

Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali led the fateha.