PML-N government on Tuesday tabled the Election Act (Amendment) Bill 2024 in the National Assembly, calling for a restriction on independent lawmakers joining political parties after a certain period, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

PML-N MNA Bilal Azhar Kayani tabled the bill amid the Opposition’s protest against the bill. The bill said an independent candidates that may join a political party within three days of the publication in the official Gazette of the names of the returned candidates.

The bill said that a candidate would be considered an independent instead of a party candidate if they did not file a declaration with the returning officer before the allotment of the election symbol showing their affiliation with a political party through a certificate from the party confirming the same.

“An independent candidate shall not be considered as the candidate of any political party if at later stage he files a statement duly signed and notarised stating that he contested the general elections as a candidate of the political party specified therein.”

Another change proposed by the bill said that if any political party failed to submit its list for reserved seats within the prescribed period then it would not be eligible for the quota of reserved seats at a later time.

The change proposed said: “Consent for joining of political party by independent returned candidate to be irrevocable. Notwithstanding anything contained in this act or any other law for the time being in force or a judgment, decree or order of any court, including Supreme Court and a high court, the consent of an independent returned candidate once given for joining a political party for purposes of clause (6) of Article 51 or clause (3) of Article 106 shall be irrevocable.”

Immediately after the bill was tabled, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar suggested it would be appropriate if the bill was referred to a committee for input from all political parties. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq subsequently sent the bill to concerned Standing Committee.

According to the Amendment Act, 2024, both these amendments will come into force immediately upon approval.

Reporter: Rozina Ali