Chaos in NA panel on ordinance bill

Special meeting on amendments to the NAB laws to be held on March 25

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Law and Justice witnessed uproar during consensus on a bill seeking banning the enforcement of more than five ordinances at a time.

The NA panel on law and justice met under the chairmanship of Riaz Fatyana on Wednesday.

As the proceedings started, the committee deliberated on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2019 (Amendment to Article 89).

Mover of the bill Abdul Qadir Patel said that under the amendment no more than five ordinances could be implemented at a time.

He noted a number of ordinances had been introduced in the past and that the amendment would increase the utility of parliament.

Committee member Aliya Kamran supported the bill and said that instead of five only two ordinances only should be allowed at a time.

When the committee sought consensus on the bill, seven votes were cast in its favour, while six in opposition.

The committee chairman, however, called for a re-vote on the bill but the opposition members opposed it.

On this occasion, the committee chairman withdrew the decision and postponed the vote for the future.

The panel also unanimously approved the Muslim Family Law (Amendment) Bill (amendments to clauses 4 and 7).

Regarding amendments to NAB laws, PML-N leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal and Sardar Ayaz Sadiq especially attended the meeting.

Asif suggested holding a separate meeting of the committee for amendments in the NAB laws.

MNA Farooq Azam Malik termed it a “black” law and called for its abrogation.

Committee member Aliya Kamran also held the similar views and said that the law should be abolished.

Law Minister Farogh Naseem urged the opposition not to play politics on NAB law saying that amendments had been introduced by the government in good faith.

PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique noted that the law was introduced by a dictator to change the loyalties of people.

Noting that the initial delay was from the opposition’s side, Law Minister Farogh Naseem requested the committee to grant him 10 days to study what amendments could be introduced in the NAB law.

PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi maintained NAB ordinance was introduced to split the politicians.

The committee decided to hold a special meeting on amendments to the NAB laws on March 25.