In a significant development, President Asif Ali Zardari has given his approval to the Election (Amendment) Bill 2024, paving the way for the appointment of retired judges to election tribunals. The bill, signed into law on Monday, aims to strengthen the electoral process and ensure the timely resolution of election-related disputes.
According to the law, the Chief Election Commissioner has been empowered to appoint retired judges to election tribunals, with the consultation of chief justices of high courts required for the appointment of serving high court judges. This move is expected to bring in experienced and impartial individuals to adjudicate election matters.
The legislation comes after the higher judiciary expressed concerns over the use of ordinances instead of laws. The bill was passed by the National Assembly on June 28 and the Senate on July 8, demonstrating the government’s commitment to electoral reforms.
The Election (Amendment) Bill 2024 is a significant step towards ensuring the credibility and transparency of the electoral process. With the inclusion of retired judges in election tribunals, the resolution of election disputes is expected to be faster and more effective.
