ISLAMABAD: The Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the National Assembly approved a bill on Wednesday to amend the Elections Act 2017, preventing lawmakers from changing their political affiliation later. The bill passed with eight members in favor, four against, and one abstention from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) MNA Shahid Akhtar.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar stated that the rules for independent members joining political parties and the issue of reserved seats are clear. However, Ali Muhammad Khan from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) argued that since it is a private member’s bill, the law minister should not advocate for it.

The bill, introduced by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Bilal Azhar Kiyani on Tuesday, proposes changes to Sections 66 and 104 of the Election Act, 2017. It states that individuals who contested the general election as independent candidates cannot later declare affiliation with any political party.

Additionally, the bill specifies that political parties failing to submit their list of reserved seats to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) within the prescribed time will lose their eligibility for those seats. It also mandates that any candidate not submitting a declaration of affiliation with a political party before seeking an election symbol will be considered an independent candidate.

The bill stipulates that it will take effect immediately and will be retroactive from the commencement of the Elections Act, 2017.