Senate passes key bill after PTI, PML-N clash

ISLAMABAD:

The Senate on Thursday passed the 'Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024' with a majority vote after witnessing a verbal slugfest between the lawmakers belonging to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

The senators from both sides exchanged harsh remarks when the report of the relevant house committee on the bill was presented. As the situation grew tense, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, who was chairing the session, had to intervene for reconciliation between them.

During the session, the house also passed the Privatization Commission Amendment Bill, the Telecommunication Appellate Tribunal Bill to amend the Pakistan Telecommunication Act and the Prohibition of Electronic Crimes Act.

The PTI senators opposed the 'Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act', which stipulated three years imprisonment and fine on any illegal assembly of people. It said that spaces would be allocated for holding protests in the federal capital.

When the standing committee report on the bill was presented in the house, PTI Senator Ali Zafar opposed it, saying that the law was being enacted to stop the PTI's rally in Islamabad later this month. "Why are these people so afraid," the senator asked.

Responding to Ali Zafar, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Parliamentary leader Irfan Siddiqui denied that the bill was related to any particular gathering. "Islamabad has a population of 5 million and the citizens here also have the rights," he told the house.

"We are talking about the rights of citizens to be regulated, we want that the rights of millions of people are not violated," the PML-N parliamentary leader said. "Gather where you are allowed," he told the PTI lawmaker.

Opposition leader Shibli Faraz said that this was "not a law but a tool", adding that the ruling coalition was using its powers illegally. "PTI has held peaceful rallies. The PTI has never besieged the city," Faraz said. "This bill is malicious."

Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said that the administration's permission for the PTI rally had been maintained till now. "Islamabad is your city too, peaceful assembly is your right," the law minister told the PTI lawmakers. Later, the bill was passed with a majority vote.

Afterwards, Law Minister Tarar presented The Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority Bill, 2024. He said that cannabis was being used in the medical field in different countries. He added that hemp would be cultivated only for use in medicine.

Zameer Ghumro said that the bill should be discussed first, therefore, it should be referred to the relevant standing committee. The chair later sent the bill to the committee with instructions to present its report in two days.

Earlier, while responding to a calling attention notice, Law Minister Tarar said that the government had taken necessary measures to check the spread of mpox in the country. He said that five cases of the viral disease had so far been detected, adding that a screening system had been operationalised at airports.

During the session, the Senate passed four bills -- the Apostille Bill, the Privatisation Commission (Amendment) Bill, The Establishment of Telecommunication Appellate Tribunal Bill, and The Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill. Later, the house was adjourned until Friday (today) morning.

Talking to reporters outside the Parliament House, PML-N Parliamentary Leader Irfan Siddiqui supported of the 'Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act', explaining that the law did not intend to restrict political activities, rather to facilitate peaceful assemblies while maintaining public order.

Citing Article 16, Siddiqui said that the Constitution did not give an unrestricted freedom of assembly. He argued that "the law strikes a balance between allowing peaceful political activities and protecting the rights of citizens, particularly in the capital city of Islamabad.

He also highlighted a broad support for the law, which was passed with the backing of multiple political parties, including the PPP, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Awami National Party (ANP), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), and several independent members.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)