With the ruling party looking to muster support to pass a spate of controversial legislation when the parliament meets on Monday, a briefing was arranged for leaders of coalition parties at the Presidency on Friday—some of whom are not onboard with the moves.
The legislation includes two bills and two constitutional amendments.
One of the constitutional amendments pertains to giving legal cover to those parliamentarians that hold dual citizenship, who are currently ineligible to hold public office under Article 63 of the Constitution. Passing such an amendment, which requires support from two-thirds of both houses of parliament, would, in any case, be difficult given the opposition’s stated disagreement – but the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party has another problem: an unwilling coalition partner in the Awami National Party (ANP), which also opposes the amendment.
ANP, which has 12 seats in both the National Assembly and Senate, is joined by another ally, the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F), in harbouring reservations against the amendment. Sources said that during Friday night’s meeting, ANP remained steadfast in its opposition to the dual nationality legislation. ANP leader Afrasiab Khattak, who attended Friday’s meeting, earlier in the day told reporters in Peshawar that the party leaders will try to convince President Zardari to drop the dual nationality bill.
However, the PPP is hopeful that it will convince the ANP to support the move, which will be called the 22nd Amendment. “ANP has reservations, but we are hopeful that we would secure their support at the end. President Zardari and the top leadership of party is personally trying to address their grievances,” said a PPP leader who attended the meeting at the Presidency.
While the PML-Nawaz (PML-N) and PML-Quaid (PML-Q) breakaways, the Like-minded Group, have already stated their outright opposition, another ‘opposition’ party, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam—Fazal (JUI-F) is yet to come out with its stance. “Maulana is in Karachi right now. He will be here on Saturday and there is possibility that some PPP leaders will be meeting him” said a leader of JUI-F. He will also hold intra-party discussions on the matter.
Contempt bill
The legislation that is expected to cause the real fireworks inside and outside parliament is the Contempt of Court Bill 2012, which seeks to bring changes to the court’s ability to invoke the law that led to the ouster of the last prime minister, and now threatens the office of the new premier, too. Among other things, the bill will look to give immunity to top office holders from contempt proceedings.
Yet, according to the ruling party’s strategy, this bill will require only simple majority in parliament, which should be no problem. The government intends to pass the legislation before July 12, which is when new Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf is due to submit a reply in the Supreme Court on whether he will follow court directions to write a letter to Swiss Authorities to re-open graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
Law Minister Farooq Naek, who conducted the briefing on Friday, was quoting as telling coalition leaders that: “The proposed contempt law is a blend of the powers of the court to punish for its contempt with the right of citizens in a democracy for fair comments and criticism.”
Another amendment
Interestingly, while on bill is decidedly anti-judiciary, another amendment seems to be distinctly benevolent towards the courts.
According to media office of the Presidency, Law Minister Farooq H Naek briefed coalition leaders, telling them that a constitutional amendment bill, called the ‘21st Constitutional Amendment Bill’ will be placed before the National Assembly to increase the family pension for the widows of judges of the Supreme Court and High courts from 50% to 75%.
Indemnity bill
The Law minister said that the fourth legislative measures is a presidential ordinance that will be placed before the National Assembly to validate acts, orders and other instruments made and issued from April 26, 2012 to June 19, 2012 by former Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, who lost his office with retrospective effect after a ruling by the Supreme Court last month.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 7th, 2012.
COMMENTS (7)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1713904359-0/burn-(1)1713904359-0-270x192.webp)
@Arshad Nasir: Excellent,well written,do agreed.
Legislating against dual-nationals does not provide a fool-proof method of blocking the entry of puppets in the important state positions because there is nothing to stop the single-nationals from acquiring the puppet status. Even the present setup was introduced in the country as a result of American ‘blessings’ brought about through the efforts of a ‘Pakistan first’ claiming single-nationality holder Pervez Musharraf who made worst compromises just to prolong his rule. Unfortunately, there is no way one could predict and prevent through legislative means the ‘evolution’ of puppets from among the ranks of single-nationals while one can do so in the case of dual-nationals, and we can do only what is possible. Obviously, Pakistanis with dual nationality can, and do, help the country in lot of ways, one of which is remitting part of their earnings abroad to Pakistan which forms a major portion of our foreign exhange inflow. Others have invested in Pakistan in a big way. Dual national Pakistani businessmen, professionals and others could turn around Pakistan provided we get sincere and capable leaders who have the decency and good sense to look after the interest of Pakistan and Pakistanis instead of just multiplying their personal wealth and that of their near and dear ones. Therefore, such Pakistanis need to be accorded proper respect and recognition in every way possible, like some honorary positions and titles, but not as members of parliament or holders of important public offices.
Ironic - the dual nationality bill was passed by Z.A.Bhutto's PPP and will be demolished by Zardari's PPP. Proves principles don't count only self interest does.
Time for the elected parliament to take control of the out of control paid govt servants on the extensions. How about the accountability of the generals and judges who have committed worst crimes against the country, called high treason? Any person who has committed high treason must be tried for that and there should be no exceptions including the PCO judges.
@ Shaista, This is a cruel game of intrests.... Pakistan is an independant state in books and in speechs...but infact... Pakistan only few year spend as independant state... Quaid-e-Azam struggled against british rule... and got freedom... And now these selfish politicians converted Pakistan into American colony... America is ruling to Pakistan indirectly... Look any portfolio, you can find American agents with dual nationality and dual faces but their title is Pakistani. Who was Moeen Qureshi and where has he gone now...? Who was Shaukat Aziz, Hussain Haqqani, Rehman Malik, British Ambassadar, Altaf Hussain... and so and so... So this is not a matter of dual nationality or few people...it is the matter of American rule... So its responsibility of PPP to protect American rule.
It would be DARKEST day in our history if they'll approve 'Foriegn Loyal NAtionals' to rule the country ! Those who can not be loyal to their mother land and opt for nationality of other estates, how can be they do what is best for our Pakistan ?
I hope everyone in PPP is put on the ECL the day next election results are announced and given the same treatment that Collector Edwards gave to Lahorites opposing British rule after the conquest of Punjab in 1849. Blow them from the mouths of cannons neatly arranged outside the city gates.