Election Reforms Bill refused by Arif Alvi as President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi refused on Sunday refuses to sign election reforms bill seeking to reverse the controversial changes made in election laws.
Previously, PTI government made the laws regarding the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and i-voting for overseas Pakistanis, saying that the proposed reversals were “regressive” in nature.
Election Reforms Bill refused by Arif Alvi, along with the one on NAB amendments, was passed by the National Assembly and Senate last month. After its approval from both houses, only the president’s assent was required for it to become law.
However, Alvi sent back the bills, following which the government convened a joint sitting of the NA and Senate on June 9 to consider the bills, which were approved the same day.
Procedurally, after bills are passed by the joint sitting, they are presented to the president once again for his assent. If the president does not give his approval within 10 days, it will be deemed to have been given.
In a statement issued by the President’s Secretariat, Dr Alvi said that he had not signed the bill “despite the fact, that the Constitution that he upholds, will make it into law”.
Elaborating on why he did not sign it, he said he had been pursuing the issues of EVMs and voting for overseas Pakistanis with all governments, in parliament and with the Supreme Court for over a decade.
He referred to Article 75 (2) of the Constitution of Pakistan which states: “When the President has returned a Bill to the Majlis-e Shoora (Parliament), it shall be reconsidered by the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) in joint sitting.
If it is again passed, with or without amendment, by the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament), by the votes of the majority of the members of both Houses present and voting, it shall be deemed for the purposes of the Constitution to have been passed by both Houses
It shall be presented to the President, and the President shall give his assent within ten days, failing which such assent shall be deemed to have been given.”
There is a continuous unrest in political circles after the alleged regime change in Pakistan.
Dr Alvi said that it had been “very painful” for him to not sign a bill passed by the Parliament and wanted to “record his reasons for posterity”.
