ISLAMABAD: Government was mulling amending Elections Act 2017 to empower upcoming caretaker set-up to take decisions beyond its constitutional mandate with view to ensure continuity of recently rolled out economic plan and expedite process aimed at receiving foreign investment in state-owned entities. Sources in Cabinet told that PML-N was considering proposing name of Ishaq Dar for caretaker Prime Minister as part of broader plan to ensure implementation of economic policies.

Final decision about candidature of Dar will be taken next week in consultation with Pakistan Peoples’ Party. PML-N sources said that government was considering amending Section 230 of Elections Act 2017, empowering caretaker set-up to take economic decisions.

They said that amendments to elections act might be introduced in National Assembly next week. Amendments would allow caretaker government to take decisions necessary to revive economy.

According to Section 230, caretaker (interim) government shall only perform its functions to attend to day-to-day matters which are necessary to run affairs of government. It will assist Election Commission of Pakistan in holding general elections in accordance with law and restrict itself to activities that are of routine, non-controversial and urgent nature, in public interest and can be reversed by future elected government.

Present law bars caretaker government from taking major policy decisions, except on urgent matters.

Sources said that proposal was to amend both sub sections of Section 230 that deal with authority bestowed upon interim set-up.

Neither Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar nor Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb responded to requests for comments on proposed amendments to elections act.

Published in The Daily National Courier, July, 24 2023

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