Opposition blocks passage of FATF bills in Senate

PM aide says ‘national security’ belongs to govt as well as to opposition

ISLAMABAD:

The opposition on Tuesday gave the government a tough time in the Senate, rejecting two bills -- the Anti-Money Laundering (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020 and the Islamabad Capital Territory Waqf Properties Bill, 2020 – which were passed by the National Assembly on Monday.

The Senate took up its entire agenda but rejected the two government bills.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan moved a motion under Rule 263 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012 that the requirement of Rule 120 of the said rules regarding notice period, be dispensed with an order to take into consideration these two government bills.

However, the opposition lawmakers opposed the motion and demanded of the leader of the house to apologise over words he earlier used for their leadership.

They refused to cooperate on the motion for consideration of these bills following which the Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani heard the arguments from both sides.

Later, the chairman ruled under Rule 120 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012 for consideration of these bills in the house.

“Both bills are of significant importance,” Awan said, adding that national security of the country belonged to the government as well as to the opposition.

He thanked the opposition parties for extending cooperation for passage of the bill related to national security in the lower house.

He said that India was busy in lobbying to include Pakistan in the black list and it was the responsibility of the government and the opposition parties to work together for safeguarding national interest.

"We need to give a message that we are standing with the state," Awan said, adding that the FATF bills did not belong to any individual or political party but to the state.

Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said that his party was ready to cooperate with the government for the passage of law related to national security but "we will not tolerate humiliation of our party leadership".

Leader of the House in Senate Shahzad Waseem said that the issue of FATF did not arise during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf govenrnent.

Minister for Law and Justice Farogh Naseem said that the bills were FATF specific and did not belong to any individual. "We are one on these bills," he added.

Both bills were later put before the house for passage but were rejected after voice voting.