Field-Marshal Hussein Tantawi, head of Egypt’s ruling military council, met with Prime Minister Essam Sharaf on Tuesday to discuss proposed changes to a controversial elections law.

The two men discussed the possible abrogation of Article 5 of the law, as well as the reactivation of a “Treason Law” banning former members of the now-defunct National Democratic Party of ousted president Hosni Mubarak from participating in Egyptian political life for a five-year period.

The meeting was also attended by Minister of Interior Mansour El-Eissawy and Minister of Justice Mohamed Abdel Aziz El-Guindy.

Recent amendments to the electoral law, which is intended to govern upcoming parliamentary polls, were heavily criticised by Egypt’s post-revolution political forces. They say the changes, which stipulate that two thirds of parliament be elected through a proportional-list system and one third through single-ticket voting, would allow elements associated with the former regime to re-enter the People's Assembly.