City
Epaper

Pakistan: Caretaker governmnet receives additional powers after parliament's nods

By ANI | Updated: July 27, 2023 04:00 IST

Islamabad [Pakistan], July 27 : A joint session of Pakistan's Parliament on Wednesday passed amendments to the Election Act ...

Open in App

Islamabad [Pakistan], July 27 : A joint session of Pakistan's Parliament on Wednesday passed amendments to the Election Act 2017, granting additional powers to the caretaker government to take important decisions on the economy and engage with international institutions, Geo News reported.

Under the new amendments, the interim government can exercise power on ongoing projects and can also look into urgent matters. 

Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said that it is important to empower the caretaker government to sign bilateral and multilateral agreements or the projects already initiated under the Public Private Partnership Authority Act 2017, the Inter-Governmental Commercial Transactions Act 2022, and the Privatisation Commission Ordinance 2000.

The bill titled "Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2023" was tabled in the joint session by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Murtaza Javed Abbasi which was approved with a majority vote.

Subclauses 1 and 2 of Section 230 of the election act related to the functioning of the caretaker government have been amended.

The caretaker government will be able to exercise powers on matters related to the ongoing projects, according to the amendments, Geo News reported.

The bill also envisages measures aimed at ensuring the timely compilation and announcement of election results, it said.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) successfully persuaded its allies in the Centre to approve a bill granting additional powers to the caretaker setup a day after the amendment bill was deferred in the parliament for further deliberations, sources told Geo News.

In this regard, Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms meeting was held with PML-N's Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in the chair to discuss Section 230 — which relates to the functions of a caretaker government.

The sources also said that under the proposed bill, the caretaker government was given “unbridled powers”, which the allied parties, as well as the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), opposed.

After the discussion on Wednesday, the PML-N agreed to make minor changes in the bill that would allow the interim government to only engage with bilateral donors and multilateral institutions, reported Geo News.

Meanwhile, the joint session of parliament also approved an amendment for the transparency of postal balloting which stated that the ECP will upload the details of the postal ballot on the website before elections and if the winning or losing ratio is five per cent then recounting of votes will take place.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

Tags: congresspitrodadelhimodideepikabjpwest-bengaldeepika-padukoneajay-devgnthakur
Open in App

Related Stories

MumbaiMumbai: BJP Leader Prasad Lad’s Letterhead and AI Voice Forged to Secure Rs 3.60 Crore; Yuva Morcha Leader Booked

EntertainmentMrunal Thakur Learns to Play Dhol For Son of Sardaar 2, Calls the Moment ‘Tiring, Thrilling, and Special’

NationalDelhi CA Found Dead in Airbnb; Rare Suicide Involving Helium Gas Reported

MaharashtraLadki Bahin Yojana: Rs 4,800 Crore Scam Exposed, Supriya Sule Drops Bombshell — How Did Men Receive Benefits?

NashikSunil Bagul, Mama Rajwade Join BJP in Nashik Ahead of Municipal Elections 2025

International Realted Stories

InternationalSouth Korea: Defence chief to visit Poland this week to sign K2 tank export deal

InternationalMajority of Australians doubt that AUKUS pact will deliver submarines

InternationalTibet rocked by second earthquake in a day

InternationalParted ways with Epstein as he stole young female workers from Mar-a-Lago resort: Donald Trump

InternationalBangladesh: Differences on fundamental reforms emerge as political parties oppose July Charter draft