ISLAMABAD – The Senate has passed a resolution against a law introduced in amended Election Bill 2o17 aiding a disqualified person to hold office of any political party.
Days after disqualified Nawaz Sharif was re-elected as president of PML-N, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Aitzaz Ahsan tabled the resolution questioning that a person, who cannot become a member of the Parliament due to disqualification by court, having unsound mind or leaving Pakistani nationality, can “become an office bearer of any political party”.
With the new election bill, the parliament is “exposed to becoming hostage to a person who himself is barred from entering it”.
The resolution was approved by the Senate with 52 votes in favour and 28 against it.
Leader of the House, Senator Raja Zafarul Haq terming the resolution inappropriate said that a bill has already passed in the regard from the Senate. Law Minister Zahid Hamid also opposed the resolution.
In September, an amendment to the Election Act 2017 sailed through the parliament paving the way for deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to head the PML-N as president following his disqualification by the Supreme Court in Panamagate case.
On October 3, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was re-elected unopposed the president of ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz after party election.
