Islamabad: The National Assembly (NA) passed the Election Act Amendment Bill 2024, but not without significant drama. The bill, which restricts independent candidates from joining political parties after a certain post-election period, sparked heated arguments and protests.
As the assembly session unfolded, NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq presided over a stormy debate. Opposition members were visibly upset, surrounding the speaker’s dais, tearing up the agenda, and shouting slogans. They accused the bill of targeting specific parties and undermining the judiciary, particularly singling out the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party as a victim of political maneuvering.
Despite the uproar, the bill was approved by a majority vote. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar defended the legislation, insisting it was fully constitutional. However, Ali Muhammad Khan from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) argued that the bill was an attack on political rights and judicial independence.
In the end, the bill passed amid a charged atmosphere, with opposition members vowing to challenge it legally. The new law requires candidates to declare party affiliation or be considered independents, marking a significant change from previous election rules.
