The National Assembly, chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, passed the Election Act Amendment Bill 2024 by a majority vote.
The bill, presented by Prime Minister of Law Nazir Tarar, faced strong opposition but was ultimately approved.
The amendment grants the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) the authority to appoint an Election Tribunal to address election irregularities.
Azam Nazir Tarar highlighted that the amendment proposes only retired judges be appointed to the Election Tribunal, replacing the previous requirement for serving judges.
The minister explained that serving judges often have numerous engagements and a heavy caseload, making it difficult for them to dedicate the necessary time to election-related issues.
This amendment aims to streamline the process and ensure timely handling of election disputes.