Malcolm Rivera
The Twenty-second Amendment of the Constitution of Pakistan, officially known as the Constitution (Twenty-second Amendment) Act, 2016, amends the procedure for the appointment, qualifications and prerequisites for the chief election commissioner (CEC) and four members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The bill was introduced in the National Assembly of Pakistan by Zahid Hamid, then Minister for Law and Justice, and was passed by the Senate on 2 June 2016.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Twenty-second Amendment of the Constitution of Pakistan |
| Other Names | Constitution (Twenty-second Amendment) Act, 2016 |
| Purpose | To amend the procedure for the appointment, qualifications and other prerequisites for the chief election commissioner (CEC) and four members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) |
| Sponsor | Zahid Hamid, then Minister for Law and Justice |
| Passed by National Assembly | May 19, 2016 |
| Passed by Senate | June 2, 2016 |
| Assented by President Mamnoon Hussain | June 8, 2016 |
| Came into force | June 8, 2016 |
| Eligibility Criteria for CEC and ECP Members | Serving or retired judges of superior courts, "civil servants", and "technocrats" |
| Age Limit for CEC | 68 years |
| Age Limit for ECP Members | 65 years |
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What You'll Learn
- The 22nd Amendment outlines the eligibility criteria for the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)
- It also sets the prerequisites for the four members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)
- The amendment bill was passed by the Pakistani Senate in 2016
- The bill was introduced by Zahid Hamid, then Minister for Law and Justice
- The bill received criticism for being rushed and not providing enough review time
The 22nd Amendment outlines the eligibility criteria for the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)
The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan, or the Constitution (Twenty-second Amendment) Act, 2016, outlines the eligibility criteria for the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the four members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The amendment was introduced by Zahid Hamid, then Minister for Law and Justice, and it changes the prerequisites for the role of CEC. Before the amendment, only Judges of the Supreme Court or High Court were eligible for appointment as the CEC. However, the 22nd Amendment has expanded the criteria to include "civil servants" and "technocrats", in addition to serving or retired judges of the superior courts.
The amendment also sets an age limit of 68 years for the CEC and 65 years for the ECP members. The bill was passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan on May 19, 2016, and by the Senate of Pakistan on June 2, 2016, with 71 members voting in favour. It received assent from President Mamnoon Hussain and came into force on June 8, 2016.
The passing of the 22nd Amendment was not without controversy, as some senators objected to the rushed process and argued that it was passed with fewer votes than the required two-thirds strength of the house. Nevertheless, the amendment represents a significant change to the eligibility criteria for the CEC and ECP members, opening up the roles to a wider range of professionals beyond the judiciary.
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It also sets the prerequisites for the four members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)
The Twenty-second Amendment of the Constitution of Pakistan, or the Constitution (Twenty-second Amendment) Act, 2016, amends the procedure for the appointment, qualifications, and other prerequisites for the four members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The bill was introduced in the National Assembly of Pakistan by Zahid Hamid, the then Minister for Law and Justice. The bill sought to alter the eligibility criteria for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Members of the Election Commission of Pakistan. Before the amendment, only Judges of the Supreme Court or High Court were eligible for appointment as Chief Election Commissioner or Members, respectively.
The Twenty-second Amendment bill sets an age limit of 65 years for the four members of the ECP. Additionally, two of the four ECP members will have to retire after completing just half of their five-year term, and lots will be drawn to determine who will retire early. The bill also makes "civil servants" and "technocrats" eligible for appointment as ECP members, in addition to serving or retired judges of the superior courts.
The bill was passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan on May 19, 2016, and by the Senate of Pakistan on June 2, 2016. It received assent from the then President Mamnoon Hussain on June 8, 2016, and came into force on the same day. The bill was considered and passed unanimously by both houses of the Pakistani parliament.
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The amendment bill was passed by the Pakistani Senate in 2016
The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan, officially known as the Constitution (Twenty-second Amendment) Act, 2016, amends the procedure for the appointment, qualifications and prerequisites for the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and four members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The bill was introduced in the National Assembly of Pakistan by Zahid Hamid, then Minister for Law and Justice.
The bill was passed by the Pakistani Senate on 2 June 2016, with 71 members voting in favour. This followed its passage through the National Assembly on 19 May 2016. The bill received assent from President Mamnoon Hussain on 8 June 2016, coming into force on the same day.
The amendment changed the eligibility criteria for the CEC and ECP members, allowing for the appointment of "civil servants" and "technocrats", in addition to serving or retired judges of the superior courts. It also set an age limit of 68 years for the CEC and 65 years for ECP members.
The passage of the bill was not without controversy, as some senators criticised the government for not providing sufficient time to review the law. There were also concerns about the process being unconstitutional, as votes on three clauses of the bill did not meet the required two-thirds strength of the house. However, the bill was passed with a majority vote, and the opposition ultimately decided to support it, citing the impending retirement of ECP members on 10 June 2016.
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The bill was introduced by Zahid Hamid, then Minister for Law and Justice
The Twenty-second Amendment of the Constitution of Pakistan, also known as the Constitution (Twenty-second Amendment) Act, 2016, was introduced in the National Assembly of Pakistan by Zahid Hamid, the then Minister for Law and Justice. The bill was designed to amend the procedure for the appointment, qualifications and other prerequisites for the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and four members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The bill was introduced by Hamid, who was a key member of the Pakistani government at the time, holding the position of Minister for Law and Justice. As the Minister for Law and Justice, Hamid was likely responsible for overseeing legal matters and ensuring the proper functioning of the country's justice system. By introducing this bill, he played a crucial role in shaping the election process and the composition of the Election Commission.
The specific purpose of the bill was to alter the eligibility criteria for the appointment of the CEC and members of the ECP. Prior to the amendment, only Judges of the Supreme Court or High Court were eligible for these positions. However, the 22nd Amendment expanded the criteria, allowing "civil servants" and "technocrats" to be appointed as the CEC and ECP members, in addition to serving or retired judges of the superior courts. This change was intended to diversify the expertise and backgrounds of those holding these important electoral offices.
The bill also introduced an age limit for the CEC and ECP members, setting it at 68 years for the CEC and 65 years for the ECP members. Furthermore, the bill addressed term lengths, stipulating that two of the four ECP members appointed that year would have to retire after completing just half of their five-year term. Lots would be drawn to determine which members would be affected by this early retirement provision.
The 22nd Amendment bill, introduced by Zahid Hamid, underwent a standard legislative process. It was considered and passed unanimously by the National Assembly of Pakistan on May 19, 2016, and subsequently passed by the Senate of Pakistan on June 2, 2016. The bill received assent from the then President Mamnoon Hussain on June 8, 2016, and came into force on the same day. While there were some objections and controversies surrounding the speed of its passage, the bill ultimately received the necessary support and approval to become a part of Pakistan's Constitution.
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The bill received criticism for being rushed and not providing enough review time
The Twenty-second Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan, or the Constitution (Twenty-second Amendment) Act, 2016, amends the procedure for the appointment, qualifications, and prerequisites for the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and four members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The bill was introduced in the National Assembly of Pakistan by Zahid Hamid, the then Minister for Law and Justice.
During the Senate session, 71 members voted for the bill, but several senators criticised the government for not giving them enough time to review it, as it had already been passed by the National Assembly. The bill was also criticised for being passed "unconstitutionally", as the votes on three clauses did not meet the required two-thirds strength of the house.
The Twenty-Second Amendment has been described as part of a pattern of minimal parliamentary and public debate in passing crucial legislation in Pakistan. Civil society organisations have criticised the trend of introducing important legislation at the last minute and rushing it through Parliament without significant legislative or public discussion. This trend has been dubbed "zombie democracy" by the Economist Magazine.
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Frequently asked questions
The 22nd Amendment of the Constitution of Pakistan, or the Constitution (Twenty-second Amendment) Act, 2016, amends the procedure for the appointment, qualifications and prerequisites for the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and four members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The 22nd Amendment Bill was introduced in the National Assembly of Pakistan by Zahid Hamid, then Minister for Law and Justice.
The 22nd Amendment Bill was passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan on 19 May 2016, and by the Senate of Pakistan on 2 June 2016. It received assent from the then President Mamnoon Hussain on 8 June 2016, coming into force on the same day.
The 22nd Amendment Bill was designed to alter eligibility criteria for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Members of the Election Commission of Pakistan, allowing for the appointment of "civil servants" and "technocrats", in addition to serving or retired judges of the superior courts.
The 22nd Amendment Bill changed the eligibility criteria for the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and four members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), setting an age limit of 68 years for the CEC and 65 years for the ECP members. It also provided that the delimitation of constituencies and preparation of electoral rolls for local government elections would be the responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan.
