After National Assembly, Senat Passing Bill to Overturn SC Reserved Seats Ruling occurred when the Election Act Amendment Bill was approved by a majority vote, despite protests by the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The session, chaired by Yousuf Raza Gilani, saw Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Talal Chaudhry present the Election Act Amendment Bill. Opposition members protested by standing on their seats.
The amendment stipulates that candidates who do not submit the party certificate before obtaining the election symbol will be considered independent. It also states that political parties failing to submit lists for reserved seats within the specified period will forfeit those seats. Additionally, candidates’ declarations of political party affiliation will be irrevocable.
Earlier, the National Assembly passed the Election Act Amendment Bill by a majority vote amid opposition uproar.
The session, chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, saw PML-N MNAs Bilal Azhar Kayani and Zeb Jaffar table the bill. Opposition members protested, tearing copies of the bill and chanting slogans like “bill rejected” and “attack on judiciary and democracy rejected.”
Sahibzada Sibghatullah of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) proposed an amendment, which was opposed and rejected by Law Minister Azam Tarar. PTI’s Ali Muhammad Khan also proposed an amendment, which was similarly rejected.
Addressing the house, Ali Muhammad Khan termed the amendment unconstitutional, arguing it deprived the PTI of reserved seats recognized by the Supreme Court. He stated that the PTI would challenge the legislation in the Supreme Court.
Law Minister Azam Tarar stated that the amendment aims to clarify election laws, noting that 81 members took oath as SIC members but now claim membership of another party.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan criticized the legislation as unconstitutional and politically motivated. He claimed the PTI’s election symbol was unfairly removed and suggested the government manipulated election results. He vowed the PTI would continue to challenge the legislation.
The house also unanimously adopted a resolution condemning India for revoking Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019, and annexing the valley under its occupation
