Chair gives in to opposition’s demand after NA protest

Proceedings remain suspended for an hour as opposition accuses deputy speaker of foul play

ISLAMABAD: Opposition lawmakers on Tuesday staged a protest in the National Assembly as they accused the chair of ‘rigging’ during counting on a private member’s bill that sought amendment in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Act 2010.

As the proceedings began, MNA Aliya Kamran moved the Islamabad High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri, who was chairing the session, ordered counting on the bill.

After the counting, the treasury benches which were opposing the proposed law secured 96 votes against 94 votes of the opposition. The opposition, however, refused to accept the result and demanded that the chair order recounting on the motion.

The deputy speaker was of the view that as per the rules recounting on a motion could not be ordered. However, the opposition lawmakers led by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah gathered in front of the speaker’s dais and started shouting slogans.



The chair had to suspend the proceedings for an hour. When the house resumed its proceedings, the deputy speaker told the house that leaders of parliamentary parties during a meeting had decided that the bill should be referred to the committee concerned and that he was acting accordingly.

Earlier, Khursheed Shah also objected to late start of house proceedings and urged the chair to be on time. Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari agreed with Shah that the time schedule should be adhered to but also blamed the previous government for ‘starting this tradition’.

A motion moved by Munawar Bibi to further amend the Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-smoker Health Ordinance, 2002 [the prohibition of Smoking and protection of Non-smoker Health (amendment) bill 2019] was rejected by the house.

However, a motion moved by Sajida Begum to further amend the Microfinance Institutions Ordinance 2001 was referred to the committee concerned.

Earlier, Minister for Privatisation and Aviation Muhammad Mian Soomro told the house that the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) would resume flight services from Kuala Lumpur to Peshawar by March or April.



Responding to a Calling Attention Notice, the minister said currently PIA has no aircraft to immediately resume the flight operations from Peshawar to the Malaysian capital.

The mover of the notice, Sher Akbar Khan, said a large number of people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa work in Malaysia but they have to catch flights to the country from Karachi and Lahore.

Naya Pakistan Authority

In a written reply to a question by MNA Dr Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto, Minister for Housing and Works Chaudhary Tariq Bashir Cheema informed the assembly that draft of the ‘Naya Pakistan Authority Bill’ has been forwarded to the Law Division.

He said a task force for construction of five million houses has been constituted and draft Mortgage-backed Security Act 2019 vetted by the panel has been forwarded to the Law Division.

He said the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has collected registration forms at designated sites since October 22, 2018. The minister said an invitation for Expressions of Interest regarding the initiative has been published by the Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation for employees from BS-1 to -16, to be executed by the private sector under a joint venture (JV) policy.

According to sources, the draft bill will be presented for cabinet’s consideration soon. The State Bank of Pakistan has also proposed interest rates for the housing project which will be reviewed by the members of the Housing Task Force.

Twenty-five companies have so far expressed interest in construction of housing units at one site. Sixteen companies have expressed interest in various other sites. The house was adjourned till 11am on Wednesday (today).