ISLAMABAD: National Assembly on Tuesday passed a private member bill to exempt the candidates from personal appearing before the Returning Officer at the time of filing nomination papers.
The hand written bill moved by opposition member Zahid Hamid of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz was adopted unanimously to rescind the amendment made in representation of People Act 1976 by the then ruler General Pervez Musharraf.
The government and none of other political party opposed the bill as Law Minister Farooq H Naek said the amendment was made by Pervez Musharraf to stop Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif from contesting the elections.
"With this amendment in the ROPA 1976, the Act will be restored to previous position enabling the candidates to avoid coming to Returning Officer if there is any threat or other reason," Naek said.
He explained that in present circumstances there are fears of attack on important leaders in the country. Therefore, this law will facilitate the candidates to send their proposers, second or any other nominee to file their nomination papers.
"After this amendment becomes an act, personal appearance of a candidate will not be mandatory. If any person desires to go to file his or her nomination papers, he can but if they do not desire, they cannot be compelled to appear in person at the time of filing the nomination papers," he explained.
Zahid Hamid had pleaded to amend the Representation of People Act so the important leader or those who receive threats from extremists and terrorist, are exempted from personal appearance at the time of filing the nomination papers.
PML-N member Naseer Bhutta described the amendment as important while MQM member Waseem Akhter and Waqas Akram also supported it.
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