ISLAMABAD (Republic policy) – The joint session of the Parliament on Wednesday passed the Election Act Amendment Bill 2023, which aims to empower the caretaker prime minister, despite the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) opposition.
The amendment to Clause 2A of Section 230 of the Election Act, which PPP leader Raza Rabbani also opposed, empowered the caretaker prime minister.
Following the passage of the Election Act Bill, the caretaker prime minister will have increased financial powers. The caretaker government will be authorised to make necessary decisions for the country’s economy, international organisations, and foreign governments and enter into agreements.
Moreover, the joint session also approved an amendment to allow candidates to nominate three polling agents. Each candidate will be able to select three polling agents at a single polling station, with only one polling agent remaining inside the polling station. The presiding officer must display the voters’ list outside the polling station.
The ECP will be bound to publish details of the postal ballots issued before the elections on its website. If there is a difference of 5% in votes between the losing and winning candidates, a recount will be conducted. The returning officer will do the recounting in the presence of the candidates.
