The government bulldozed a controversial election law through both houses of parliament, sparking protests from PTI members and criticism from opposition parties. The law, which aims to circumvent a Supreme Court verdict and reduce PTI’s expected parliamentary strength, was passed without much debate and will have retrospective effects from 2017. PTI plans to take the issue to the apex court, while government-allied MQM-P views it as an attempt to pit parliament against the judiciary.
Opposition members raised slogans and tore up copies of the bill during the National Assembly session, leading to a heated debate and accusations of unconstitutional actions. Despite the opposition’s objections, the bill moved forward with support from ruling party members.
The contentious law proposes changes to the Election Law 2017, including rules regarding reserved seats for women and non-Muslim candidates. The amendments highlight a power struggle between the branches of government, with implications for the country’s political landscape and democratic processes.
Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2024
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