ISLAMABAD – National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has written a letter to the Election Commission, stating that reserved seats cannot be changed after the amendment to the Election Act.
He further mentioned that the Supreme Court’s decision cannot be implemented after the amendment to the Election Act.
Speaker Ayaz Sadiq raised the issue of parliamentary supremacy, autonomy, and reserved seats, and informed the Chief Election Commissioner through a letter about the amendments made to the Election Act. He also sent copies of the letter to all members of the Election Commission.
In the letter, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq told the Chief Election Commissioner that reserved seats cannot be changed after the amendment to the Election Act. The Election Act has been amended after the Supreme Court’s decision, and the amendment applies retroactively. He emphasized that the Election Act is currently in effect, so the Election Commission should implement the law made by Parliament and adhere to the principles of democracy and parliamentary supremacy.
The NA speaker further stated that the amendments to the Election Act by Parliament have already been enacted. The Supreme Court instructed that independent members be allowed to join another party, and the Election Commission was directed to implement this in their decision.
However, after the Supreme Court’s decision, Parliament passed the Election Amendment Act on August 7, which prohibits independent members, who have joined a political party, from changing parties. According to the Act, any member who did not submit a party certificate with their nomination papers will be considered independent.
He also referred to the law made by Parliament regarding reserved seats and said that it is the constitutional duty of the Election Commission to respect the law made by Parliament. Since the legislation was made after the Supreme Court’s decision, the Election Commission must fully ensure the implementation of the second amendment to the Election Act.
Fazlur Rehman rejects govt’s draft on constitutional amendments
