A member of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday sought the chairman Senate's ruling on the status of candidates elected as independents to the House, as Constitution is silent on the time limit required for them to join any political party.
Speaking on a point of public importance, PML-N Senator Lieutenant General Abdul Qayum (retd) said that the Constitution is completely silent with regard to independent senators to join any party within a specific time limit, contrary to the condition set for independent members of national and provincial assemblies after their elections.
He pointed out that Articles 53 and 59 clearly state that a member who is elected as an independent candidate to national and provincial assembly is required to indicate within three days which party he/she is supposed to join. But when it is Senate, there is no mention of any time frame for an independent candidate to join any political party as it gives a freehand to the member whether he/she should join a party or remains independent for the whole term.
He sought ruling of the chair on the matter as the party had to field independent candidates for recently held Senate elections after the Supreme Court annulled then PML-N President Nawaz Sharif's nominees as the party candidates.
However, the outgoing Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani remained silent which is an indication that there should be a criteria for candidates who made their way to Senate as independents. General Qayum (retd) contended if there is no bar in the Constitution, the members who have been elected as independent senators can announce their joining as they were backed by the PML-N.
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