By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Assembly on Sunday passed a bill that would limit the disqualification of lawmakers for a period of up to five years.
The bill, which was approved by the upper house of parliament last month, would benefit former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who was disqualified from holding public office for life in 2017 by the Supreme Court over corruption allegations stemming from the Panama Papers leaks.
The bill, titled the Elections (Amendment) Act 2023, would also empower the Election Commission of Pakistan to unilaterally fix the date for elections.
Sharif, who is currently living in exile in London, has been seeking to return to Pakistan to lead the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party in the upcoming general elections. However, he has been unable to do so because of the life ban on his political activities.
Sharif has been living in London on medical grounds and is facing arrest warrants, and has been declared an absconder by a Pakistani court. Sharif served three terms as prime minister.
The bill would amend the Election Act 2017 to reduce the disqualification period under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution, which requires lawmakers to be “honest and righteous”.
The passage of the Elections (Amendment) Act 2023 could clear the way for Sharif’s return to Pakistan. However, it is not yet clear whether he will be able to overcome the other legal challenges that he faces, such as the non-bailable arrest warrants that have been issued against him.
The opposition has criticised the bill as “person-specific legislation” aimed at benefiting Sharif and Jahangir Khan Tareen, who was also disqualified for life in 2018 over financial irregularities, former ally of opposition leader Imran Khan.
Sharif’s party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has rejected the corruption charges against him as politically motivated and said he would return to lead the party before general elections in October.
The bill now requires the signature of President Arif Alvi before it can become law. Alvi is currently in Saudi Arabia performing the Hajj, and it is not yet clear when he will return to Pakistan.
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