Political Parties’ Petitions with Election Tribunals – July 2014 Update

There were 17 petitions decided in the month of June 2014 -sixteen by election tribunals and one by the ECP. However, given the backlog of pending petitions and the expiry of the tribunals’ tenure, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has extended the tenure of tribunals following their failure to resolve all post-election disputes within the legally-stipulated deadline. Overall, as many as 318(78%) out of the 410 cases have so far been decided by the tribunals and the ECP (292 out of 384 by tribunals and 26by ECP)while 92 (22%) petitions are still awaiting decisions.The ECP constituted 14 tribunals across the country following the 2013 elections to redress election-related complaints of contesting candidates.The tribunals were legally bound to decide each case within 120 days of its receipt.

 
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FAFEN Parliament Monitor: 12th (Budget) Session 14th National Assembly

The National Assembly’s twelfth (budget) session was marked by the approval of the federal budget for the fiscal year 2014-15. The House passed the Finance Bill after incorporating 43% of the recommendations proposed by the Senate. Other legislations, including the Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2014, were also passed amid protests and low attendance of members.

 
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Political Parties’ Petitions with Election Tribunals June 2014 Update

The election tribunals established by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) have failed to redress post-election disputes within the legally-stipulated deadline. A year after the 2013 elections, nearly 27% (109 out of 410) petitions are still awaiting decisions. Meanwhile,73% (301 out of 410) cases have been decided by the tribunals and the ECP (276 out of 385 by tribunals and 25 by ECP). The ECP constituted 14 tribunals across the country following the 2013 elections to redress election-related complaints of contesting candidates. The election results were officially notified on May 22, 2013, following which the candidates were given until July 6 (45 days) to submit their petitions. The ECP received a total of 409 petitions,while one petition was filed directly with the Lahore Tribunal.

 
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14th National Assembly of Pakistan: Annual Report 2013 – 2014

Marked by national security challenges, post-election disputes and strained civil-military relations, the first parliamentary year of the 14th National Assembly, which ended on May 28, 2014, saw the passage of only 11 treasury-backed bills. Following the country’s first-ever democratic transition of power, the National Assembly had to respond to public concerns over prevailing multipronged issues of governance. Meeting for 99 sittings, the National Assembly’s focus remained on bills pertaining to judicial commissions, banking and amendments in the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.

 
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Political Parties’ Petitions with Election Tribunals May 2014 Update

The election tribunals established by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) have fallen behind the legally-stipulated deadline to dispose of petitions in 124 out of 126 pending cases. As of April 30, 2014, only 69% (284 out of 410) of the post-election petitions were decided by the election tribunals and ECP (259 out of 385 by the tribunals and 25 by ECP itself).

 
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Five Years Performance of 13th National Assembly of Pakistan March 2008-March 2013

The five years of 13th National Assembly achieved a legislative agenda that altered the country’s governance structure by ensuring provincial autonomy and restoring the 1973 constitution and promoted women’s empowerment. Although the lower house’s five years are defined by issues of national security, political instability, civil-military relations, executive-judiciary tension and the energy crises, it displayed…

 
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Top Parliamentary performance in 13th National Assembly (March 2008 – January, 2013)

The legislators of the main opposition party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN), actively took part in the parliamentary proceedings during the five years in the 13th National Assembly. They sponsored the most agenda items, including oversight over the executive through the Question Hour and Calling Attention Notices, and representation by raising issues of public interest through Matters of Public Importance, Motions under Rule…

 
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Political Parties’ Petitions with Election Tribunals April 2014 Update

The election tribunals established by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to redress post-election disputes have failed to dispose of as many as 150 out of 156 petitions within the legally-stipulated deadline.As of March 31, 2014, only 62%(254 of 410) of the post-election petitions were decided by the tribunals and the ECP (229 out of 385 by 14 tribunals and 25 by ECP). The ECP constituted 14 tribunals across the country following the 2013 General Elections to redress election-related complaints of contesting candidates. The election results were officially notified on May 22, 2013, following which the candidates were given until July 6 (45 days) to submit their petitions. The ECP received a total of 409 petitions,while one petition was filed directly with the Lahore Tribunal.

 
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FAFEN Parliament Monitor: Senate of Pakistan 101st Session February 3 – 17, 2014

Discussion on policy and constitutional matters was the main concern of Senators besides law and order situation as they spent two fifths of the session time criticizing the government on the said issues through debates, says the Free and Fair Election Network in its report based on direct observation of the Senate. Through two Motions under Rule 218, the government received heavy criticism for its privatization policy and not pursuing Article 148(3) which directs federal government to protect its citizens.

 
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Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Framework: Performance of the 13th National Assembly (2008-2013)

The 13th National Assembly brought yet another transition to democracy in Pakistan. Pakistan faced uncertainty and lingering political instability from 2008 to 2013. The defining feature of this period in Pakistan’s history was the executive-judiciary tussle. President Zardari, who took over as a civilian President from General Musharraf in 2008, did not initially restore the sacked higher judiciary. It was eventually done due to the intense mobilization of the lawyers and opposition political parties. However, seeds of the executive-judiciary tussle mushroomed into political instability. It forms the backdrop to the way the 13th National Assembly functioned and completed its tenure.

 
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