The Islamabad High Court on Monday issued a notice to the secretary to the president of Pakistan and the attorney general over amendment in the Election Act 2017 through an ordinance.
During the hearing of a petition filed by former union council chairman Sardar Mehtab, the high court inquired about the amendment in the Act.
The petitioner responded that through the amendment, the government allowed public office holders and lawmakers to take part in the election campaign.
The petitioner said the ordinance was based on the mal-intent of the government as there was no urgency to amend the election law at the time. “It seems the draft of the ordinance was already prepared and the government promulgated it as soon as the parliament session was postponed,” the petitioner added.
According to the complainant, the government could have waited for parliament to come in session but in order to avoid the debate on the changes, it hastened to issue the ordinance.
