The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has proposed an amendment to the Election Act, 2017 in the National Assembly to restrict independent candidates from changing their party affiliation post-election.
PML-N MNA Bilal Azhar Kiyani introduced this as a private member’s bill, specifying that an independent candidate cannot join any party three days after being officially notified of their election result.
The amendment stipulates that once an independent candidate joins a party, they cannot switch to another. Additionally, it proposed that political parties failing to submit their priority lists for reserved seats will not be eligible to receive them.
Legal expert Abid Zuberi weighed in on this legislative move, interpreting it as a government attempt to circumvent a recent Supreme Court decision favouring Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Sunni Ittehad Council regarding reserved seats.
Zuberi highlighted that while this amendment is forward-looking, it could face legal challenges if it contradicts the Constitution.
