NA extends two ordinances for 120 days

Covid-19, financial institutions ordinances are about to complete their constitutional life

ISLAMABAD:

The National Assembly on Monday gave consent to extend two ordinances for another 120 days, passed a resolution commemorating its 73rd anniversary and discussed issues ranging from TV fee to violent attacks on the transgender community.

The assembly passed the resolution, seeking to extend the Covid-19 (Prevention of Smuggling) Ordinance 2020 and the Financial Institutions (Secured Transactions) (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 for another 120 days as the two ordinances were about to complete their 120-day constitutional life on August 20 and August 26, respectively.

Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Naveed Qamar opposed the move, saying the government should have brought a bill instead of seeking an extension.

Adviser to Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan replied that the ordinances were passed as it was the need of the hour and bills would be introduced, if required.

During the session, PPP’s Shazia Marri raised the issue of an increase of Rs65 in Pakistan Television licence fee before the house. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan replied that the matter was still “pending” before the cabinet and a final decision has yet to be made about a hike in monthly fee for PTV from Rs35 to Rs100.

To Marri’s comment seeking an assurance that the government would not increase the fee, Khan replied that the comment was based on an assumption. Though the fee has not yet been increased, he clarified; the fee was not for watching PTV but for having a television set.

“Tomorrow, they will seek a guarantee that the sun will not rise from the west,” Khan quipped. “How can I assure them of that?”

Khan said that the PPP government could have ended charging TV fee but it did not.

On PPP’s Agha Rafiullah’s concern as to why fee was being charged by the government as well as the cable operators, Khan said that the minister should not watch cable.

Highlighting the structure of TV fee being charged in other countries, he said that legislation can be brought in the house if lawmakers were in favour of abolishing TV fee.

The state-run broadcaster charges a monthly fee from electricity consumers, which provides it with billions in annual funding. Khan said that the PTV, which was always in losses, was now earning a profit of Rs329 million per year.

Meanwhile, the former NA speaker and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Sardar Ayaz Sadiq presented the resolution commemorating the 73rd anniversary of NA, which was passed unanimously.

Through the resolution, the house expressed its resolve that both the treasury and opposition shall do their best for effective and meaningful debate by upholding the cannons of best parliamentary practices for the sake of public interest by performing their core functions of legislation and parliamentary oversight.

The lawmakers pledged to preserve democracy and protect national and political unity and solidarity by creating an egalitarian society.

Sadiq said that it was painful to see foul language being used in the house, urging the house to come up with a code of conduct to prevent non-parliamentary language.

“Differences should be on issues, the relationships we have should be based on respect and dignity,” Sadiq said.

PTI’s Shehryar Afridi seconded the suggestion, saying that the house should not be disrespected.

In the session, PTI’s Asma Qadeer brought up the matter of violent attacks on transgender community across the country, which was causing grave concern amongst the public.

Giving a policy statement, Awan said, “The transgender people are included for the first time in the Ehsaas programme across the country and a task force is also working for their rights.”

Balochistan National Party (BNP)’s Sardar Akhtar Mengal drew the house’s attention towards suicide attacks on the emergency services ward of Civil Hospital, Quetta on August 8, 2017, killing dozens of lawyers and leaving scores injured. He demanded that the Quetta commission’s report be brought before the house.

At the outset, members of the MMA sat at the speaker’s gallery instead of sitting in the house while registering their protest for not being given a chance to speak during the joint sitting of parliament last Friday.

“This is an insult to the house and I can’t allow them to sit in the speaker’s gallery,” NA Speaker Asad Qaiser remarked, when informed about the protest. “Lobbies are included in the house only for joint sessions.”

On the request of PTI MNA Amir Dogar, the speaker adjourned the session for 15 minutes.

On the floor of the house, Maulana Asad Mehmood said that he along with others wanted to talk about legislation but were not allowed to do so.

Mehmood said that the foreign minister gave a lengthy speech and implied that legislation was important for the country and those who did not support it, would be backing the enemies of the country.

“When someone disagrees with you, you should listen to him,” Mehmood said. “The Constitution that you believe in was made by our forefathers.”

He said that if the JUI-F leadership is abused by government benches, “we will identify those who have brought you in the house”.

Referring to PTI’s Murad Saeed, he quipped, “When Saeed stands to speak, it looks as if he is standing at the border”.

Reacting to Mehmood’s remarks, Khan said that to imply that someone other than voters brought the treasury members in the house was an insult to the millions of voters. “You [Mehmood] should tell who brought you in the assembly in the past,” he questioned, adding that Imran Khan was the only politician who formed the government after a 22-year struggle.

The session was finally adjourned for Tuesday when quorum was found incomplete after PPP’s Qadir Patel pointed it out.