Islamabad (HRNW)-\u00a0The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to review and amend election-related laws and constitutional provisions before the upcoming general elections, aiming to strengthen the country’s electoral framework.<\/p>\n
According to sources, the Election Commission has activated its Legal Reforms Committee, comprising senior ECP officials and representatives from all relevant wings, including the legal department. The committee will examine the existing electoral laws and constitutional provisions governing the election process.<\/p>\n
The committee will review the legal and constitutional shortcomings that emerged during the 2024 general elections and prepare recommendations to address them. The Election Commission intends to modernize the electoral framework and make it more effective and transparent.<\/p>\n
As part of the reform process, the ECP will prepare proposals for amendments to the Constitution of Pakistan, the Election Act 2017, and the Election Rules 2017. According to sources, the reforms will focus on aligning Pakistan’s electoral laws with international best practices while identifying gaps in the current legal framework.<\/p>\n
The objective of the proposed reforms is to ensure a transparent, fair, and uniform electoral process. The Election Commission has set a target to complete the review of constitutional provisions related to elections by 2026, while the review of the Election Act 2017 and the Election Rules 2017 is expected to be finalized by December 2026.<\/p>\n
The ECP also plans to prepare proposals to harmonize local government laws with the Election Act and Election Rules. Under the proposed mechanism, the Commission will provide its opinion on amendments to local government laws within three months of the enactment of new legislation.<\/p>\n
The Election Commission said the reforms are aimed at making Pakistan’s electoral laws more effective and better aligned with democratic requirements in light of changing circumstances.<\/p>\n
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