Consultations: Nawaz, Haq discuss bills to be moved in parliament

Mull over moving the Commission of Inquiry Bill, other bills in 36th session.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Leader of the House in the Senate Raja Zafarul Haq held an important meeting on Saturday to review progress on the proposed legislations, the federal government is going to move in the parliament in the coming weeks, The Express Tribune has learnt

A press release issued by the PM House following premier’s meeting with Haq did not have a mention if any legislative matter was discussed. However, sources said both the premier and the senator discussed the options for a number of bills, including the Commission of Inquiry Bill 2016 moved in the 36th session of the National Assembly.

The Commission of Inquiry Bill is a controversial bill, which is similar to a previous ‘toothless’ draft, already rejected by the Supreme Court and opposition parties to probe Panamagate scandal.

On August 31, the federal cabinet quietly approved the Commission of Inquiry Bill. Following the cabinet’s approval, the bill would now be moved in the National Assembly and Senate seeking the parliament’s nod in order to become a law.

The Commission of Inquiry Bill 2016 was the last and unexpected agenda item during the said cabinet meeting and was not part of the agenda items issued by the PM House prior to the cabinet huddle.

The mainstream opposition parties, especially the PTI and the PPP have strongly rejected the same bill, labelling it as being more or less similar to Commissions of Inquiry Act 1956. Also on August 31, the PPP submitted its own Panama Papers Inquiry Act 2016 in Senate to counter the government’s bill.



The two leaders also discussed the Commission of Inquiry Bill, Fata Reforms Bill and Criminal Laws Amendment Act 2016 that suggests amendments in Protection of Pakistan Act (Popa).

The options on Popa’s restoration in order to have it amended were also discussed. They included restoration-specific legislation before introducing the amendments in the act.

Apart from that, Fata reforms package also remained high on the Saturday meeting’s agenda.

The PM recently approved report of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) Reforms Committee, headed by Adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz. The report has been presented in the NA, to be followed by the presentation of a related bill after fulfillment of certain legal requirements.

Some key recommendations include integration of Fata into Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and introduction of a comprehensive development package in the areas. The proposed amendments in the Popa are part of the federal government’s Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2016.

The government tabled the bill in the Senate on Friday, containing suggested amendments in the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), the Police Act, the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Qanoon-e-Shahadat and the PoPA 2014.

However, the government had to withdraw the bill following objections from opposition that the bill contained Popa amendments while the two-year act lapsed in July. The PML-N leadership is of the view that progress on pending bills needs to be expedited for their timely passage from the parliament.

Raja Zafarul Haq, however, did not elaborate on the Saturday meeting’s agenda.

“A lot of issues of national, political and legislative importance come under discussion in such meetings. The PM represents the entire Pakistan and has a huge burden of responsibilities. Therefore, the issues that come under discussion are several,” he told The Express Tribune.

Asked if the options to move bills like Commission of Inquiry, FATA Reforms, Popa amendments and others were discussed, he did not give a specific reply.

“It would not be appropriate to comment on the specifics. As I said a host of issues came under discussion and we deliberated on the ways and means to get Pakistan on the track of progress and prosperity,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2016.