Opposition outplayed: Bill passed to give ‘blanket cover’ to Gilani’s actions
Legislation validates former premier’s actions between conviction, disqualification.
ISLAMABAD:
There was outrage on the opposition benches over a bill providing a ‘blanket cover’ for actions taken by former premier Yousaf Raza Gilani between his conviction and his ultimate disqualification – but the government, unfazed, simply put the bill before the house and got it approved anyway.
The National Assembly passed the bill, which validates acts and orders made and issued from April 26, 2012 to June 19, 2012 (both days inclusive), on Monday. The legislation is known as the Validation Bill, 2012.
The Supreme Court had disqualified Gilani in a contempt of court case on June 19 and had asked the Parliament to validate, if it wanted, his decisions taken between April 26 and June19. On April 26, he had been convicted and a decision regarding his fate was to be taken by the NA speaker. The June 19 order, however, declared Gilani disqualified as of April 26.
PML-N reactions
“The house should be provided with a list of all those actions and decisions taken by the former prime minister instead of a blanket cover,” Zahid Hamid from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said.
PML-N MNA Saira Afzal Tarar pointed out that she, along with another party member, had opposed the bill in the Standing Committee on Law and Justice but the report presented before the house had stated that the bill was discussed in detail and approved unanimously. “If Gilani was disqualified in April, then why did he stick to his office till June?” she questioned.
When asked for a clarification, the committee chairperson, Begum Naseem Akhtar Chaudhry, said “It is a clerical mistake.”
Engineer Khurram Dastgir of the PML-N also regretted the passage of the bill, saying “Future generations will see this legislation as blind validation.”
PPP defence
In response, Law Minister Farooq H Naek, the mover of the bill, said that “The court order was retrospective in action and Gilani was officiating as prime minister during that particular period, therefore, this legislation was necessary.”
Naek also pointed out that the opposition had not raised a hue and cry over a similar provision in the Trade Organisation Bill, 2012, which also asked for blanket cover and which was passed moments earlier.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA Abdul Ghafoor Chaudhry rescued the law minister and said that the court had not disqualified Gilani on April 26 and had sent the matter to the NA Speaker. Therefore, Gilani performed his duties till the final order on June 19, he added.
Meanwhile, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) moved a resolution condemning Israel’s brutal actions in Gaza and urged Islamic countries to take action. However, the resolution was deferred till today (Tuesday) after the government and opposition said they also wanted to move similar resolutions and that they should all be clubbed and passed unanimously.
In addition, MQM also urged the government to make special plans for security in Karachi, particularly during the first 10 days of Muharram.
However, none of the members opted to participate in an ongoing debate on the law and order situation in the country, which has been part of the lower house’s agenda since the current session started.
Later on, PML-N members staged a walkout when one of its MNAs, Nelson Azeem, was asked to cut short his point of order demanding the release of funds for minorities’ representatives.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2012.
There was outrage on the opposition benches over a bill providing a ‘blanket cover’ for actions taken by former premier Yousaf Raza Gilani between his conviction and his ultimate disqualification – but the government, unfazed, simply put the bill before the house and got it approved anyway.
The National Assembly passed the bill, which validates acts and orders made and issued from April 26, 2012 to June 19, 2012 (both days inclusive), on Monday. The legislation is known as the Validation Bill, 2012.
The Supreme Court had disqualified Gilani in a contempt of court case on June 19 and had asked the Parliament to validate, if it wanted, his decisions taken between April 26 and June19. On April 26, he had been convicted and a decision regarding his fate was to be taken by the NA speaker. The June 19 order, however, declared Gilani disqualified as of April 26.
PML-N reactions
“The house should be provided with a list of all those actions and decisions taken by the former prime minister instead of a blanket cover,” Zahid Hamid from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said.
PML-N MNA Saira Afzal Tarar pointed out that she, along with another party member, had opposed the bill in the Standing Committee on Law and Justice but the report presented before the house had stated that the bill was discussed in detail and approved unanimously. “If Gilani was disqualified in April, then why did he stick to his office till June?” she questioned.
When asked for a clarification, the committee chairperson, Begum Naseem Akhtar Chaudhry, said “It is a clerical mistake.”
Engineer Khurram Dastgir of the PML-N also regretted the passage of the bill, saying “Future generations will see this legislation as blind validation.”
PPP defence
In response, Law Minister Farooq H Naek, the mover of the bill, said that “The court order was retrospective in action and Gilani was officiating as prime minister during that particular period, therefore, this legislation was necessary.”
Naek also pointed out that the opposition had not raised a hue and cry over a similar provision in the Trade Organisation Bill, 2012, which also asked for blanket cover and which was passed moments earlier.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA Abdul Ghafoor Chaudhry rescued the law minister and said that the court had not disqualified Gilani on April 26 and had sent the matter to the NA Speaker. Therefore, Gilani performed his duties till the final order on June 19, he added.
Meanwhile, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) moved a resolution condemning Israel’s brutal actions in Gaza and urged Islamic countries to take action. However, the resolution was deferred till today (Tuesday) after the government and opposition said they also wanted to move similar resolutions and that they should all be clubbed and passed unanimously.
In addition, MQM also urged the government to make special plans for security in Karachi, particularly during the first 10 days of Muharram.
However, none of the members opted to participate in an ongoing debate on the law and order situation in the country, which has been part of the lower house’s agenda since the current session started.
Later on, PML-N members staged a walkout when one of its MNAs, Nelson Azeem, was asked to cut short his point of order demanding the release of funds for minorities’ representatives.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2012.