IMC: NA passes LG ordinance amid protest

Speaker replied that the resolution had been presented in the previous session as well but it could not be taken up


Riazul Haq February 15, 2016
PHOTO: APP

ISLAMABAD:


The National Assembly on Monday passed the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015 amid protest from opposition members.


As Climate Change Minister Zahid Hamid moved the resolution, opposition members raised objections saying that since the ordinance has lapsed, tabling the resolution was illegal.

Opposition Leader in National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah remarked that on a day when a mayor and three deputy mayors were elected how a lapsed ordinance could give them legal standing.

“It is simply illegal. Why the government is doing it now,” he asked while addressing NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.

The speaker replied that the resolution had been presented in the previous session as well but it could not be taken up.

“You people have also been doing this in the past and this has been the practice,” Sidiq told to Shah. To this, Shah replied if they were doing so, then why the government was committing the same mistake.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf legislator Shireen Mazari, Pakistan People’s Party MNA Naveed Qamar and other opposition members rose from their seats and loudly opposed the move.

When the speaker announced that those who were in favour of the resolution say, “yes” and those opposing it say, “no”, the treasury benches said, “yes” in unison while the opposition said “no” amid uproar coupled with thumping of desks. Finally, the speaker ordered head counting to ascertain the number favouring and opposing the resolution.

The count went in the government’s favour with 75 members favouring it while opposition had 69 headcount. The resolution was termed ‘passed’.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2016.

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