Sanjrani Signs Election, Finance Bills Into Law

Sanjrani Signs Election, Finance Bills Into Law
Senate Chairman and Acting President Sadiq Sanjrani on Monday signed the key bills of Finance and Elections into law.

Sanjrani, who is the defacto vice president of the country and assumes duties of the president when the latter is out of the country or incapacitated, signed the bill after President Dr Arif Alvi traveled to perform the annual pilgrimage of Hajj on Sunday.

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On Monday, Sanjrani signed the two bills.

The finance bill has a total outlay of Rs14.48 trillion (the highest in Pakistan's history) for the fiscal budget of 2023-24, which focuses on measures to stabilize the economy.



 

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The Elections (Amendment) Bill 2023 seeks to empower the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to make modifications to the election programme as necessary.

The proposed amendment in Section 57(1) suggested that the commission shall announce the date or dates of the general elections by notification in the official gazette and shall call upon the constituencies to elect their representatives.

The proposed amendment in Section 58 (1) suggested, notwithstanding anything contained in Section 57, the commission may, at any time, after the issuance of notification under sub-section (1) of that section, make such alterations in the elections programme announced in that notification for the different stages of the election or may issue a fresh election programme with the fresh poll date (s) as may, in its opinion to be recorded in writing, be necessary for the purposes of this Act.

Meanwhile, the bill approved also included an amendment to Section 232 (Qualifications and Disqualifications) of the Election Act, 2017.

As per the proposed amendment, disqualification of the lawmaker will be considered for 5 years where the tenure of the punishment is not specified in the constitution.

The disqualification of the person will be considered for five years on the orders of the Supreme Court or high courts.

Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani Elections Bill, President Arif Alvi