President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday approved the Election (Amendment) Bill 2024, which empowers the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to appoint retired judges of high courts to election tribunals.
Under the amendment to the Elections Act, 2017, the ECP would not need consultation with the respective chief justices for the appointment of retired judges as election tribunals.
Through the Election Amendment Bill, the amendments were made in Section 140 of the Election Act 2017.
After the amendment, the chief justice of the high court concerned will be consulted in case of the appointment of a serving judge in an election tribunal, a press release issued by the President House said.
After the president’s approval under Article 75 of the Constitution, the election bill has become an act.
The Election (Amendment) Bill 2024 was passed by the National Assembly on June 28 and by the Senate on July 4, amid strong opposition from the opposition legislators.
The Supreme Court had taken up an appeal by the election governing body in the ongoing row between the ECP and the Lahore High Court (LHC) regarding the appointment of judges to the election tribunals concerning the February 8 polls.
On May 29, the LHC held that under Article 219(c) read with Article 222(b) of the Constitution, the LHC chief justice enjoyed primacy in the appointment of election tribunals under Section 140 of the Elections Act, 2017.
