Senate passes contempt of court bill
PML-N walks out from Senate proceedings in protest.
ISLAMABAD:
The Senate on Wednesday passed the contempt of court amendment bill on Wednesday amid protests by the opposition parties, reported Express News.
The opposition protested for around two hours during the proceedings and stated that the bill was being passed by ‘bulldozing’ basic Senate procedures. The Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N) also boycotted the proceedings in protest.
The bill was pushed through the National Assembly on Monday but still needs to be signed by the president to become law – which will probably be done before July 12, when the court takes up the Swiss letter matter.
The NRO case, ordering the government to write letter to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Ali Zardari, has already cost the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) one prime minister. Yousaf Raza Gilani was disqualified by the Supreme Court for committing contempt of court by not writing the letter.
The bill will ostensibly provide cover for Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf from possible disqualification by the Supreme Court.
During the debate on the bill Senator Aitzaz Ahsan said the government should review the draft of the Contempt of Court Bill as law made in haste could be harmful for the government.
He said the proposed law is giving immunity to the president and the PM but we must not forget that the situation will change when the party will be in sitting in the opposition.
The bill has already been challenged in the Supreme Court for being contradictory to the Constitution.
Earlier taking part in the general debate on the Bill, Leader of the Opposition Ishaq Dar said it is a malafide attempt and amounts to lowering the prestige of the Parliament.
He demanded that it should be withdrawn otherwise the opposition will take appropriate action to ensure that the bill doesn't stay on the statute book even if it becomes an act.
The Senate on Wednesday passed the contempt of court amendment bill on Wednesday amid protests by the opposition parties, reported Express News.
The opposition protested for around two hours during the proceedings and stated that the bill was being passed by ‘bulldozing’ basic Senate procedures. The Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N) also boycotted the proceedings in protest.
The bill was pushed through the National Assembly on Monday but still needs to be signed by the president to become law – which will probably be done before July 12, when the court takes up the Swiss letter matter.
The NRO case, ordering the government to write letter to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Ali Zardari, has already cost the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) one prime minister. Yousaf Raza Gilani was disqualified by the Supreme Court for committing contempt of court by not writing the letter.
The bill will ostensibly provide cover for Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf from possible disqualification by the Supreme Court.
During the debate on the bill Senator Aitzaz Ahsan said the government should review the draft of the Contempt of Court Bill as law made in haste could be harmful for the government.
He said the proposed law is giving immunity to the president and the PM but we must not forget that the situation will change when the party will be in sitting in the opposition.
The bill has already been challenged in the Supreme Court for being contradictory to the Constitution.
Earlier taking part in the general debate on the Bill, Leader of the Opposition Ishaq Dar said it is a malafide attempt and amounts to lowering the prestige of the Parliament.
He demanded that it should be withdrawn otherwise the opposition will take appropriate action to ensure that the bill doesn't stay on the statute book even if it becomes an act.