- Not “fair” to spend 3 months on routine decisions: Dar.
- “Our experience in the past hasn’t been great,” says Finmin.
- Sources say that the Parliament will adopt the Electoral Reforms Bill this week.
Islamabad: As sources claim that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have agreed on Finance Minister Ishaq Dar as Caretaker Prime Minister, Dar said that the Elections Act, 2017 will be amended to enable the interim ruler to take important decisions. news Reported on Monday.
During an interview with a local television channel, when Dar was asked whether section 230 of the election law would be amended – he replied in the affirmative and said that the country cannot be handed over to a government for everyday decisions.
He further said that there is no need to hide the matter from the people as they will find out anyway.
In addition, he added: “…but I think that whoever takes this responsibility, it would not be fair for the country to spend three months on everyday decisions.”
“Our experience in the past hasn’t been great.”
According to sources, after the consensus is reached, the government is taking other political parties into confidence.
sources further added geo news that the Finance Minister is also acceptable to the establishment as interim Prime Minister; However, during the television programme, Dar said that it was “too early” to say whether he would be selected.
“Yes, I saw those reports today… As a basic Muslim, I believe you should not aspire, run after or lobby for any position yourself…”
He further said that it was “premature” to say that he has been selected for the role, adding that a proper constitutional process would have to be initiated.
Asked if there is a consensus on his name, Dar said his record shows that he has always done his job to the best of his ability.
Bill
Meanwhile, established parliamentary sources gave this information news This week, both the Houses of the Parliament will separately adopt the Electoral Reforms Bill, which will bring major changes in the Election Act-2017.
The proposed reforms will increase the powers of the caretaker government to deal with important matters of national importance, beyond day-to-day matters.
The amendment to the Act will further strengthen the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to conduct free, fair and transparent elections.
Sources said a comprehensive bill will be approved at the federal cabinet meeting earlier this week and will be tabled in the National Assembly by Law and Justice Minister Senator Muhammad Azam Nazir Tarar.
He said amendments to the act would be passed by the Senate by the end of the week.
Sources said that this law will enable the caretaker government to act like an elected government in dealing with international affairs and can act in a sovereign manner.
The caretaker will consider provincial issues in the same way as an elected government might, including fiscal matters.
The committee, constituted by National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf and headed by former NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, has compiled its recommendations, which have been given to the government for further action.
Sadiq held a marathon closed-door session of the committee and approved the bill for reforms.
Sources said extraordinary strictness would be exercised in the laws and regulations regarding vetting of candidates in the upcoming elections so that no unwanted person could reach the Parliament or the Provincial Assemblies.
The bill will also incorporate the recommendations of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, who had earlier asked the commission to be given powers to take certain actions.
He reminded the government that the conduct of the election is dependent on necessary arrangements being made by the Commission to ensure that “the standards of probity, justice, fairness as provided in Article 218(2) are met”.
The CEC noted that the electoral body has consistently endeavored to uphold the rule of law, fair play and meritocracy in letter and spirit.
He, however, reminded that the writ of the Commission was systematically challenged several times.
“Practically, the authority of the ECP has lapsed,” the letter said.
The Chief Election Commissioner, in his letters, wrote of significant disciplinary interventions by the ECP in the past that were withheld and set aside, leaving unruly functionaries to hide behind legal orders despite “irregularities of a serious scale in the discharge of their official functions”.
He reminded that at that time there was serious compromise with the writ of the ECP.
Sources said Parliament has already addressed the commission’s recommendations through legislation in the last few weeks.
