Elections Act amendment bill sails through Senate amid opposition protest

The Senate on Thursday approved the Election Act Amendment Bill 2024 amid strong protest by the members of the opposition benches, Geo News reported.

Persistent sloganeering irked Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani who warned the protesting members, saying, “Do not consider it the National Assembly. I will take stern action if the protest continues.”

Later, the opposition members staged a token walkout and returned to the floor of the Upper House.

Earlier in late June, the National Assembly approved the Election Act Amendment Bill, 2024 amid the protest of the opposition against the restoration of original provision making retired judges of high courts eligible for appointment as members of the election tribunals for hearing of election petitions.

In the previous legislation, the appointment of retired judges as a member of the ETs was replaced with sitting judges. However, the PML-N-led government has restored the original provision of Section 140 of the Election Act, 2017.

Earlier on June 27 in its maiden meeting, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Parliamentary Affairs gave approval to the amendment to the amended Election Act with a majority vote that seeks to restore the original provision of Section 140, making retired high court judges eligible for appointment as members of election tribunals.

The amendment aims to expedite the settlement of petitions pertaining to elections of the National Assembly, the Senate, provincial assemblies, and local governments.