The National Assembly Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs Wednesday approved the Election Act Amendment Bill by a majority vote, Aaj News reported.

The National Assembly will consider the bill for final approval on Friday.

Bill prohibiting independent candidates from joining parties tabled in NA

During the meeting, the committee discussed amendments to the Election Act 2017.

Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister of Law, explained the bill, but Ali Muhammad Khan, of the PTI, objected to it, citing the bill’s status as a private member’s bill.

The National Assembly on Private Members’ Day introduced, “The Elections (Second Amendment) Bill, 2024”, which provides that if any political party fails to submit its list for reserved seats within the aforesaid prescribed period, it shall not be eligible for the quota in the reserved seats at a later stage.

ECP decides to implement Supreme Court’s order in reserved seats case

The bill also prohibits independent candidates from joining another political party after a specified period.

It restricts independent candidates/candidates from joining political parties after a constitutionally and legally defined period.