Federal cabinet gives approval to Election Amendment Bill 2022

Islamabad: The federal cabinet approved the Election Amendment Bill 2022 during a meeting that was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office said Tuesday.

During the meeting, the cabinet also approved presenting the bill to the National Assembly.

The meeting also approved the prime minister's advice to President Arif Alvi to appoint the governor of Punjab. 

"The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will launch a pilot project for the overseas Pakistanis to cast their votes in by-elections," read the statement, adding that the project will be presented in the Parliament. 

The project will be launched for electronic voting and biometric verification, while the report will decide whether the voting procedure was workable for overseas Pakistanis and if the verification method was applicable. The results will then be presented before the Parliament.

-- Special committee for consultations on issue of enforced disappearances approved --

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Tuesday approved the formation of a special committee with a mandate to hold consultations with all the relevant institutions and experts on the issue of enforced disappearances.

During the meeting of the federal cabinet held here under his chair, the prime minister was given a briefing on the issue of enforced disappearances. The committee would consist of cabinet members belonging to all the political parties.

It was told that a special committee of the cabinet had been constituted on the subject which served to look into the factors behind the disappearances besides working for the recovery of the missing persons.

Moreover, a bill to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure 1860  had been tabled in the National Assembly which proposed strict punishment for the people involved in enforced disappearances. The amendment bill is currently under consideration by the Senate Standing Committee concerned.

Calling it a serious constitutional issue, the cabinet members called for practical steps for its resolution in coordination with all the stakeholders. The prime minister said the enforced disappearances was a serious issue that led to the lawlessness.