NA extends two ordinances by 120 days

Opposition stages walkout over ‘bulldozing elected representatives’

ISLAMABAD:

The National Assembly on Friday extended two ordinances – pertaining to the production, distribution and transmission of electricity and the Higher Education Commission -- by 120 days.

The lawmakers of the opposition parties – the PPP and the PML-N – staged a walkout over the presentation of the ordinances.

They complained that the President House had been turned into an “ordinance factory”.

The opposition pointed out the lack of quorum, but it was found that there were enough lawmakers in the House to pass the extension.

The lower house of parliament, the proceedings of which were presided over by Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, also passed two bills – one of the welfare of senior citizens and the other to establish a special technology authority.

Call-attention notices pointing out the “obscenity” in dramas of some TV channels and the claim of the issuance of four million fake identity cards in Sindh were handed over to the respective standing committees for further investigation.

The call-attention notice on the issuance of fake cards by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) was presented by MQM-P.

The party’s convener, MNA Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, said jobs in Karachi were snatched by residents of rural Sindh by having their identity cards and domiciles issued from the city.

Human Rights Minister presented the Islamabad Capital Territory Senior Citizens Bill, 2021, which had already been passed by the Senate, in the House.

It was passed unanimously by treasury and opposition benches. Federal Energy Minister Hammad Azhar moved a resolution to extend the Power Transmission Distribution and Generation Ordinance for 120 days. On this, PML-N MNA Rao Ajmal pointed out the lack of quorum.

After a count, it was found that that there were enough MNAs in the House to pass the resolution. However, the opposition expressed its reservations over extending the ordinance.

PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal raised the question as to why the government had not passed it as a bill while the NA session was under way.

“About 50 ordinances have been issued. It will affect the people as laws were being imposed while bulldozing their elected representatives,” he added.

The National Assembly also approved a 120-day extension in the HEC ordinance.

Iqbal maintained that the ordinance was being extended to reduce the term of the HEC chairperson.

MNA Shahida Akhtar Ali of the JUI-F criticised the government for seeking an extension in the ordinance instead of introducing a bill.

PML-N’s Khurram Dastgir said Prime Minister Imran Khan had attacked institutions through ordinances seven times.

He added that PM Imran has had also attacked the Election Commission over the secret ballot of the Senate.

PPP’s Raja Pervez Ashraf said that the HEC chairman had been appointed for four years.

“If his term is reduced to two years, then the matter should be brought to the House.”

The opposition walked out of the House over the ordinances. The House later passed the Special Technology Zones Authority Bill 2020 by a majority vote.

During Question Hour, Parliamentary Secretary Alia Hamza said the circular debt had started piling up in 2007-8.

“The contract of K-Electric was signed in 2010 which has not been renewed yet. At present we are giving 1,000 MW to the power company,” she added.

The parliamentary secretary maintained that the present government’s recovery rate in terms of power charges stood at 97% whereas it was 87% during the tenures of previous governments.

Later, the session was adjourned till Monday.