Parliament's joint sitting passes four bills amid opposition ruckus

The government passed four bills, including the Trade Organisations Amendment Bill 2021, during Friday’s joint session of parliament, despite disruptions caused by opposition lawmakers from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

The session, presided over by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, began an hour later than scheduled, Express News reported. PTI lawmakers created a ruckus in the house, holding placards and vocally opposing the proceedings.

Prominent figures, including Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, and Sherry Rehman, were present.

However, Bilawal Bhutto arrived after the session had ended.

Opposition members requested the right to speak on points of order, but the speaker denied the microphone to the opposition leader, prompting protests. Opposition members chanted slogans rejecting the PECA Act during the session.

As protests and sloganeering intensified, the proceedings were severely disrupted, prompting the Speaker to wear headphones to continue the session.

Commerce Minister Jam Kamal presented the Trade Organisations Amendment Bill 2021 and the Imports and Exports Regulation Amendment Bill 2023, both of which were approved.

Senator Manzoor Kakar introduced the National Excellence Institute Bill 2024, which was passed, along with the National Institute of Technology Bill 2023.

The joint session was adjourned until February 12. The session lasted a total of 18 minutes, during which four bills were passed in just nine minutes.

Four Bills Approved, Four Deferred

Out of the eight bills presented during the session, four were approved while four were deferred.

Approved Bills:

1. Trade Organisations Amendment Bill 2021
2. National Institute of Technology Bill 2023
3. National Excellence Institute Bill 2024
4. Imports and Exports Regulation Amendment Bill 2023

Deferred Bills:

1. National Commission for Human Development Amendment Bill 2023
2. NFC Institute of Engineering and Technology Multan Amendment Bill 2023
3. National Skills University Islamabad Amendment Bill 2023
4. Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science, and Technology Islamabad Amendment Bill 2023