National Assembly Limits Disqualification Period for Parliamentarians

The National Assembly of Pakistan approved a change in legislation that restricts the disqualification period of a parliamentarian to a maximum of five years.

The move sets the stage for previously barred politicians to again run for public office. Key beneficiaries of this amendment include high-profile politicians like Nawaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Jahangir Khan Tareen of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), who were both disqualified by the Supreme Court in 2017 under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution, for being found “dishonest.”

The Senate approved this bill earlier in the month, amending Section 232 (Qualifications and Disqualifications) of the Election Act, 2017.

The bill now awaits approval from Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani, currently serving as the acting president in the absence of President Arif Alvi, who is out of the country for Hajj.

Autonomy for the ECP

Alongside the disqualification amendment, the National Assembly also passed a modification allowing the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to independently set a date for general elections without requiring presidential approval. This change gives the ECP greater autonomy, permitting it to alter the election program post-announcement, albeit “in writing.”

Reactions and Future Implications

Despite the passage of these amendments in the National Assembly, their implications remain uncertain, as the Supreme Court has challenged previous attempts to overturn the lifetime disqualification of parliamentarians. How the Supreme Court responds to this latest legislation, which modifies the Election Act to limit the disqualification period, is yet to be seen.

People within the ruling coalition have defended the decision, emphasizing the supremacy of the parliament and its rights to legislate and clarify existing laws. “This was due, and it should have been done a long time ago,” said sources from the ruling coalition.