Caretakers given more powers to ensure fair polls: minister

ISLAMABAD: The joint sitting of parliament today passed “the Elections (Amendment) Bill 2023” aimed at ensuring free, fair and transparent elections in the country.   

The bill empowers the caretaker government to take actions or decisions regarding existing bilateral or multilateral agreements or projects. 

The PML-N had on Sunday had announced that an amendment was being introduced to empower the interim setup to have powers similar to that of an elected government.

“The interim setup will not be confined to day-to-day affairs of the government till elections are held. An amendment is being brought (to the Constitution) to empower the caretaker setup to take important decisions like an elected government does,” PML-N supreme leader’s spokesperson Muhammad Zubair had said.

Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar today clarified that no new powers were being given to the caretaker government.

He said amendments in the section 230 were aimed to ensure that the decisions already taken by the federal cabinet do not face any hiatus.

The bill envisages measures aimed at ensuring timely compilation and announcement of election results.

Under the bill, the president officer shall immediately take a snapshot of the result of the count and as soon as connectivity is available and sent it electronically to the Election Commission and the returning officer before sending the original documents under Section 90.

The returning officer shall compile complete provisional results and shall communicate these results electronically to the commission.

In case the results are incomplete by 2 a.m. on the day immediately following the polling day, the returning officer shall communicate to the commission provisional results as consolidated till that time along with reasons for the delay.

In writing, while listing the polling stations from which results are awaited and thereafter shall send the complete provisional results as soon as compiled but not later than 10:00 a.m.  

The bill further provides that officials of law enforcement agencies shall be posted for security duties outside the polling stations but in an emergency may be called inside by the president officer to restore order and peaceful polling.

Under the bill, the contesting candidates may use their existing bank accounts for election expenses.

The aw minister said that under the bill, a period of six months has been given to decide election petitions.