ISLAMABAD: The 20th Amendment bill has been unanimously passed in the National Assembly (NA), Express News reported on Tuesday.
Earlier Law Minister Maula Bakhsh Chandio had presented the bill in the NA, after the Federal cabinet had approved the bill's draft during a meeting in Islamabad.
Opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar, during the NA session, had stated that the government has presented the bill without informing the opposition beforehand.
The opposition leader said that in the last meeting, he was told that the government will hold further talks regarding the bill.
Cabinet expresses “full confidence” in Gilani
The cabinet had earlier expressed “full confidence” in Gilani as he prepares to go on trial for contempt of court, which could cost him his job.
“The cabinet unanimously applauded the conduct of the prime minister in the Supreme Court and reposed full confidence in his leadership,” his office said in a statement.
Gilani thanked the cabinet and said he was premier “due to the support of members of parliament, his cabinet colleagues and of the coalition partners”.
The prime minister was on Monday charged with contempt by the Supreme Court for refusing to re-open corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
He pleaded not guilty and the court adjourned until February 22, the first step paving the way to a trial that could see him jailed for six months and disqualified from office.
President Zardari and his late wife, former premier Benazir Bhutto, were suspected of using Swiss accounts to launder about $12 million in alleged bribes paid by companies seeking customs inspection contracts in the 1990s.
The Supreme Court has ordered the government to ask the Swiss to re-open the cases, which were shelved in 2008, when Zardari became head of state.
The prime minister has refused, saying Zardari is immune from prosecution as president and that the cases are politically motivated.
Recording Ijaz's statement through video link unlawful: AG
When inquired regarding the record of Mansoor Ijaz’s statement through video conferencing, Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq informed the cabinet that there was no provision in the law which would allow the video conferencing to take place.
Prime Minister Gilani asked the attorney general why the parliament was ignored in the matter when it is a supreme body, and also asked Haq to brief him about the situation in person.
The issue was raised in the cabinet despite its absence on the agenda of the meeting.
Earlier this month, the judicial commission probing the Memogate scandal agreed to Ijaz’s request of recording his statement in another country. The commission directed the secretary of the commission Raja Jawad Abbas to travel to London and receive documents, evidence and gadgets from Ijaz, while lawyers in Islamabad cross-examine the video conference.
COMMENTS (11)
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Great victory of Democracy and Parliament, special credit goes to PML N for urging the Gov to pass ammendment
What is in 20th Amendment?
Can someone please tell me what is the meaning of this amendment? and how it will affect Pakistanis?
What is in 20th Amendment??? No details ..Poor Journalism
The Supreme Court does not even give special treatment to Prime Minister. But for Mansoor Ijaz it is bending over backward. Pakistan courts have never before allowed video conferencing. And how can he be properly cross examined? Why this Mansoor Ijaz have such power to make army and Supreme Court dance to his tune?
Poor journalistic standards! The title of the post is 20th Amendment bill unanimously passed in National Assembly, yet there are no details about the bill itself..
The job if the parliament is to legislate and the job of the judiciary is to implement the legislation passed by the legislators.
As per the requirement of the judiciary, the parliament has passed the 20th amendment and with this the legislators who were debarred from their respective seats will no become eligible.
Though today was the last day for filing the nomination papers for the Senate, I hope that who were earlier disqualified by the judiciary will return back the party tickets to the respective political party, thus paving the way for the new people to become Senators.
@Karim Alam: Killer of a sitting Governor should be praised. Those who failed to defend borders in OBL episode should be praised. Religious people who make hate speeches should be praised. Journalist who exposed men behind PNS Mehran shootout should be tried. Dr who helped to identify OBL should be tried. Where is Pakistan heading?
A person charged with contempt of Court is being Praised and showering full confidence. what a pity?
great job....well done
President with corruption cases, Prime Minister who has just been held in contempt of court ... as if we didn't have enough already to be proud of, our democratic set-up has stepped forward to support the noble cause. Icing on the cake!