Holding back: Doubts plague opposition even as PPB speeds through senate

‘Absolute power corrupts,’ remarks MQM senator, fearing misuse of law.

ISLAMABAD:

Even as the Protection of Pakistan Bill has sailed through both houses of parliament, it does not enjoy support across the political spectrum, as some remain apprehensive of the potential misuse of the law.

While appreciating the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) effort to develop consensus on the bill, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) spokesperson said, “We have abstained from being a part of the bill. We have our reservations that the law might be misused in the future.”

The JUI-F’s opposition to the PPB has stemmed from clauses in the National Internal Security Policy (NISP) regarding the role of religious seminaries in terrorist acts and the process of registering these seminaries. On Tuesday, after reading a report from the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics in favour of the bill, JUI-F senator Talha Mahmud, accompanied by Senator Hafiz Hamdullah walked out of the senate as voting on the PPB commenced.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement Senator Tahir Hussain Mashadi told The Express Tribune that while his party remains in favour of a law to punish terrorists – whether ‘enemy aliens’ or ‘militants’ – but added, “absolute power corrupts (absolutely) and the history of Pakistan tells us that any law which provides unprecedented power is misused.”

Mashadi, a member of the committee selected to provide judicial oversight to the PPB, added that further amendments could be made to rein in the law, but other political parties disagreed. The PPB’s current draft features 21 amendments. Mashadi said the MQM demanded a total of 14 amendments to the bill, 11 of which were included.

The PPP, ANP, BNP-Azad and PML-Q had previously presented a Protection of Pakistani Citizens Act, which has been merged within the PPB’s current form.

Rights organisations are expected to raise their concerns regarding the PPB.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2014.