The Election Reform Act 2024 has officially become law, following President Asif Ali Zardari’s signature, and it’s already stirring up a storm in Pakistan’s political arena. This new legislation, now on its way to the Senate Secretariat for gazette notification, is the latest flashpoint between the government and the opposition.
Late last night, President Zardari gave the green light to the Election Reform Bill 2024, turning it into law. The bill, which passed through both the National Assembly and the Senate with a majority vote, has faced fierce resistance from PTI leaders, who argue that the government is using Parliament to undermine the Supreme Court and target their party.
What’s in the Act?
This law came about after the Supreme Court’s July 12 decision, which required the Election Commission to allocate specific seats to PTI. The first amendment in the Act stops assembly members from changing their party affiliation certificates, while the second amendment ensures that political parties can submit their lists in time to secure those seats.
These changes, made to Sections 66 and 104 of the Election Act 2017, took effect the moment President Zardari signed the bill.
PTI’s Response
Unsurprisingly, PTI isn’t taking this lying down. Their Chairman, Barrister Gohar, has already challenged the new law in the Supreme Court, calling it an attack on democracy. As the battle lines are drawn, everyone’s watching to see how this tug-of-war between the government and opposition will unfold in the coming days.