Fourteenth Amendment is passed [1997]
|
News clip reporting the 14th Amendment |
Horse-trading and defection was on a rise in the past and was causing problems to various governments. The overthrow of Wyne’s government by Wattoo’s defection, the defection of MNAs from the opposition against the no confidence motion to support Benazir in 1989 are some of the examples of this problem.
The Nawaz Sharifs government on coming to power took step to do away with this ever-increasing problem. It was under Nawaz’s government that the National Assembly unanimously adopted the Constitution Bill (14th Amendment) on July 1, 1997.
The Anti-defection Bill that was earlier passed by the Senate and later by the National Assembly with a large majority is a structural reform to end the practice of switching party loyalties. As a result of this Bill, blackmailing party leadership for ministerial slots, bank loans and other concessions will lead to unseating of such parliamentarians.