Islamabad- Former Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Kanwar Dilshad, has said that presidential ordinance for change in election process on Senate seats of FATA is ‘unconstitutional’ and ‘unlawful’.

 In an interview, Dilshad said overnight issuance of the presidential ordinance, reflects ill motivation of the government. “This ordinance is illegal, unconstitutional and ill-motivated”. The former ECP official demanded of the commission to take notice of the ordinance and issue a notice even to the prime minister.

“The ECP is an autonomous institution. It should reject the ordinance by exercising powers given under Article 218 of the Constitution. I hope that Supreme Court will also void it,” he asserted.

Earlier today, National Assembly members from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) protested over the presidential ordinance. The ordinance was issued late Wednesday under which MNAs from FATA will be entitled to cast only one vote. The previous presidential ordinance of 2002, that allowed four votes to each FATA members, has been withdrawn.

The new procedure drew anger from FATA lawmakers and created confusion when voting began in the National Assembly for 48 Senate seats, including four for FATA. It prompted ECP to stop the voting process on the four seats temporarily, as many of the FATA lawmakers refused to cast their votes. Earlier a group of FATA MNAs met the Chief Election Commissioner and expressed their strong resentment over change of the election procedure.