Cabinet approves amendment bill giving dual nationals right to contest polls

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - In its meeting on Tuesday, the federal cabinet approved the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2020, aimed at giving dual nationals the right to contest the polls in country and ending the secret voting in the Senate elections. During the meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair,  the approval was given to bring a constitutional amendment to abolish secret ballot for Senate elections. The meeting also gave confirmation of the ECC's September 2 decisions and revoked the licenses of suspicious pilots. The approval of appointment of judges in special courts has also been given in the cabinet meeting. Meanwhile, the prime minister stopped the construction of a model jail on the Green Belt in Islamabad. Briefing the journalists, Minister for Information Shibli Faraz urged educational institutions to fully comply with the SOPs to avoid the spread of coronavirus. The meeting expressed satisfaction over resumption of educational activities across the country, following improvement in the Covid-19 situation. The cabinet also considered an amendment in the Electoral Act to make it binding on the elected members to take oath of their office within 60 to 90 days after the elections. Shibli Faraz said the Cabinet meeting reviewed matters pertaining to irregular constructions. He said the PTI governments in the provinces have been directed to prepare master plans of their major cities to ensure planned construction. The minister said government accords priority to protection of Green Areas and the cabinet decided not to regularize the illegal construction of a prison on a green area in the federal capital. He said this facility will be demolished and inquiry will be conducted against those who approved it. He said the prison will be constructed at an alternate place in Islamabad.