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Electoral Laws & Reforms – National Democratic Foundation

Elections & Democracy

The provisions for the National Assembly empowers parliament to make laws for the holding of elections

Electoral Laws

The provisions for the National Assembly also apply to the Provincial Assemblies. It also empowers the Parliament to make laws for the holding of elections and provides for the formation and conduct of the Election Commission. The relevant election laws are:

  • The Delimitation of Constituencies Act of 1974
  • The Electoral Rolls Act of 1974
  • The Elections to the Senate Act of 1975
  • The Representation of the People Act of 1976

Despite Pakistani people’s considerable experience of election, in various forms, public discourse on electoral issues has largely been dominated by partisan considerations and interests of groups wrangling over power. Attention has mostly been concentrated on securing results favorable to incumbents.

Electoral Reforms

The election framework of Pakistan is laid down in the Constitution enforced on August 14, 1973, as amended from time to time, but most drastically in the period 1977-85 when the martial law was in effect. The constitution provides for a bicameral federal parliament, the number of Muslim and non-Muslim seats in the National Assembly, the number of seats in the Senate and the manner of filling them, the qualifications for being a voter and the qualifications and disqualifications for legislators.