Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice on Friday approved the Election Bill 2017 and sent it to the Senate for its approval.
Senator Javed Abbasi chaired the meeting of the committee at Parliament House here.
The committee reviewed Election Bill 2017 clause by clause and the members recommended different amendments.
The Law Minister told that Election Commission was doing scrutiny of the assets of members of Parliament since 1976.
The Secretary Election Commission told that the scrutiny of the assets of members of Parliament was a continuous process.
After approval of the Election bill from Senate, it would be again sent to the National Assembly and after bill’s approval from the assembly, it will become law.
The members also discussed clause by clause Public Interest Bill 2017 introduced by Senator Mohsin Leghari.
Senator Leghari said that nomination papers and objections on candidates for reserved seats of women should be filed in the relevant district.
The members agreed that in the expenses of candidate, the expenditure of party or organization should also be included.
Secretary Election Commission said the commission wanted to control the election expenses. The members also agreed on the suggestion of Senator Saifullah Magsi that the time for filing objections on election expenses
should be three months.
They also concurred to the suggestion of Senator Aisha Raza Farooq that the old system of filing of annual expenses should be kept intact.
The Law Minister directed NADRA officials that the process for change of residential address on identity cards should be expedited.
The members also suggested measures for voter lists, delimitation, official announcement of election results, polling station scheme and violation of code of conduct.
The chairman committee appreciated the members for their keen interest in the legislation process.
The committee meeting was attended by Senator Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Saifullah Magsi, Aisha Raza Farooq and Senator Mohsin Leghari, Federal Minister Zahid Hamid and officials of Election Commission and NADRA. (APP)
