Barbs fly in NA over presentation of bills
Treasury members present 41 bills, including one aimed at closure of businesses during prayers
Policymakers. PHOTO: EXPRESS/ FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The treasury benches and the opposition members in the National Assembly traded barbs over the presentation of bills. The opposition members were of the view that the parliamentary day was meant for them, while the treasury members said creating ruckus in the assembly was opposition’s daily routine.
The treasury benches on Tuesday presented 41 bills, including one aimed at the closure of business establishments at the time of prayers and others proposing amendments to the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA).
A total of 32 bills of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Syed Fakhar Imam were clubbed together and were considered as presented in the house.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Nafeesa Shah said 11 ordinances passed as royal orders were in clear violation of the rules and regulations.
PTI leader Shireen Mazari replied that the opposition was not serious regarding the proceedings of the house, saying that they stop telling the government what to do.
Objecting to the bills, Nafeesa said the parliamentary day was meant for opposition members but the presentation of the bills by the treasury benches had tarnished the powers granted to the chairmen of the standing committees. “The sessions of the standing committees have been subjected to approval from the NA speaker,” complained the PPP leader.
The PPP staged a walkout in protest against the presentation of the bills by treasury benches.
Other opposition members joined the PPP parliamentarians as well.
Responding to the walkout, Federal Minister Shireen Mazari said treasury members also had the right to present bills like the opposition.
“It has become a daily routine for the opposition members to create a ruckus,” she said.
The minister said, “[PPP Chairman] Bilawal Bhutto has been stopping the passage of the Zainab Alert Bill in the Committee for Human Rights for the past six months.”
She said opposition member Naveed Qamar had made it a habit to stand in protest after every two minutes.
Mazari termed the issue of interruption as “stupidity”.
After the quorum was complete, PTI leader Asad Umar presented a bill proposing an amendment to the Islamabad Rental Renewal Ordinance while Fahim Khan presented a bill proposing mandatory closure of business establishments for 15 minutes during prayer times.
After support from the treasury benches, the bill was forwarded to the concerned standing committee.
Similarly, treasury member Riaz Fatiyana presented a bill proposing an end to one-year imprisonment for persons convicted of suicide attempts. As per the proposal, anyone convicted of a suicide attempt would have to undergo mandatory counseling in place of imprisonment.
On the other hand, PPP leader Yousuf Talpur forwarded a bill proposing implementation of quota for government jobs up to Grade V in the federal capital was rejected. The NA session was adjourned until 11 am on Wednesday.
The treasury benches and the opposition members in the National Assembly traded barbs over the presentation of bills. The opposition members were of the view that the parliamentary day was meant for them, while the treasury members said creating ruckus in the assembly was opposition’s daily routine.
The treasury benches on Tuesday presented 41 bills, including one aimed at the closure of business establishments at the time of prayers and others proposing amendments to the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA).
A total of 32 bills of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Syed Fakhar Imam were clubbed together and were considered as presented in the house.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Nafeesa Shah said 11 ordinances passed as royal orders were in clear violation of the rules and regulations.
PTI leader Shireen Mazari replied that the opposition was not serious regarding the proceedings of the house, saying that they stop telling the government what to do.
Objecting to the bills, Nafeesa said the parliamentary day was meant for opposition members but the presentation of the bills by the treasury benches had tarnished the powers granted to the chairmen of the standing committees. “The sessions of the standing committees have been subjected to approval from the NA speaker,” complained the PPP leader.
The PPP staged a walkout in protest against the presentation of the bills by treasury benches.
Other opposition members joined the PPP parliamentarians as well.
Responding to the walkout, Federal Minister Shireen Mazari said treasury members also had the right to present bills like the opposition.
“It has become a daily routine for the opposition members to create a ruckus,” she said.
The minister said, “[PPP Chairman] Bilawal Bhutto has been stopping the passage of the Zainab Alert Bill in the Committee for Human Rights for the past six months.”
She said opposition member Naveed Qamar had made it a habit to stand in protest after every two minutes.
Mazari termed the issue of interruption as “stupidity”.
After the quorum was complete, PTI leader Asad Umar presented a bill proposing an amendment to the Islamabad Rental Renewal Ordinance while Fahim Khan presented a bill proposing mandatory closure of business establishments for 15 minutes during prayer times.
After support from the treasury benches, the bill was forwarded to the concerned standing committee.
Similarly, treasury member Riaz Fatiyana presented a bill proposing an end to one-year imprisonment for persons convicted of suicide attempts. As per the proposal, anyone convicted of a suicide attempt would have to undergo mandatory counseling in place of imprisonment.
On the other hand, PPP leader Yousuf Talpur forwarded a bill proposing implementation of quota for government jobs up to Grade V in the federal capital was rejected. The NA session was adjourned until 11 am on Wednesday.