ECP raises objection to 45 out of 72 amendments: Sherry

ISLAMABAD: PPP Parliamentary Leader in the Senate Sherry Rehman has said amendments to the Electoral Reform Bill (ERB) are a violation of both the Constitution and the Election Act 2017. “The amendments made to this bill are controversial and the Election Commission of Pakistan has also expressed reservations which reflect the problematic legislation done by this government,” she said while criticising the government for bulldozing the Electoral Reforms Bill in the National Assembly. She said the PPP will place a number of amendments as the amendments drafted by the government violate the Constitution and the Election Act 2017. “It’s no secret that Tabahi Sarkar has been running the country in a reckless manner but such dangerous legislation is a threat to our democratic system,” she said. She said it seems that the government wants to disempower the ECP so it could have its way in the next elections. “What they are forgetting is that these amendments are not for one election but for the years to come,” she added. Highlighting the ECP reservations, Sherry said it does not come as a surprise that out of 72 amendments drafted by the government, the ECP does not support, fully or partially, 45 of these amendments. As many as 15 of these amendments have been termed a violation of the Constitution, whereas only 27 amendments have been supported without any objection.