Pakistan

Protection of Pakistan Ordinance presented in Senate amid protests

Deputy chairperson sends PPO to Standing Committee of Interior for review.

Web Desk April 18, 2014

An Express News screengrab of Raza Rabbani speaking during the Senate session.

ISLAMABAD: The Protection of Pakistan Ordinance was presented in the Senate amid strong protests from opposition parties, Express News reported on Friday.

The ordinance, recently passed by the National Assembly, grants sweeping powers of arrest and detention to security forces.

Federal minister Zahid Hamid presented the ordinance during the Senate session presided over by Deputy Chairperson Sabir Baloch.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Awami National Party, Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid protested against the ordinance, while PPP Senator Raza Rabbani labelled it as a "black law."

After the discussion, the deputy chairperson sent the ordinance to the Standing Committee of Interior for review and asked the senators to record their reservations to the committee members.

Political parties and human rights organisations have criticised the law and called for drastic amendments before it is enacted into a law.

The government’s ability to pass any controversial legislation through the Senate will be severely challenged, as opposition parties, though divided, have an overwhelming majority in the house.

Having 39 members, Pakistan Peoples Party is the largest party in the Senate and sits on opposition benches since it was voted out in last year’s general elections for the National and provincial assemblies.

COMMENTS (6)

Rex Minor | 10 years ago | Reply

A prelude to military takeover? Pakistan in my opinion is on the brink of a military take over.

How many security walls the tax payer will be asked to pay for the security of milita the securityun of the residences of the military brass? The army rule over civilians has run its course, democracy cannot be stopped in the 21st century in any part of the world.

This is what is written and will transpire.

Rex Minor

Saleem | 10 years ago | Reply Let's agree on one thing that violence in Pakistan can't go on like this. People's lives, libertie, and properties are at stake and something needs to be done to tackle this violence. Like other readers have pointed out, similar laws were enacted by many countries in their hard times, particularly US & UK after 911. Under prevailing circumstances, Pakistan does need changes in its laws to curb violence. If for that civil liberties are put on back burner for a while then so be it. It is better to be alive rather than talking about civil liberties when your life is at stake and you don't know whether at the end of the day you will be returning home alive. I would care less for PPP and MQM opinion which have done nothing in the past when they have an opportunity to do something to curb violence, particularly in Karachi. And now they are harping as if they know about civil liberties and how to curb violence. These people needs to see themselves in the mirror and ashamed of their tenure in power. To PTI, my advise is to stop criticizing for the sake of criticism. Beside participating in talk shows or doing press conferences, I yet have to see any positive comment or input from PTI on any subject, Like Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan is not really part of Parliament, nor he has made any contribution in Parliament to improve lives of people. He is still crying about last election but like in the past has not made any effort to be part of Parliament. Sometime I wonder why those who don't contribute/participate in Parliament should be elected to that body even. My advise to PTI will be that if they have any suggestion to improve this law then it should work with PML (N) to make improvements in it, otherwise let them try it for few years and see if it can make a dent in violence in Pakistan.

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Lunacyassailam | 10 years ago | Reply This is against the will of the Baloch Iranians.How long can Scythians occupy them without consequences?.

Patriot (?) | 10 years ago | Reply

Pakistan's version of the Patriot act. This is a slippery slope, one we just can't afford given the times we live in.

Kolachi | 10 years ago | Reply

This law shall be most useful for feudal lords during elections. As, we all know that through out Pakistan specially in rural areas SHOs are appointed upon approval of local landlords. so, when one farmer will refuse to favor Land lord than the real face of PPO will come out and farmer shall be sent behind the bars. May farmers live long, unfortunately that seems unlikely.

Bystander | 10 years ago | Reply

Such Laws have been passed and accepted by superior courts of other countries (such an UK, US and Australia). Reservation about this ordinance are primarily on the basis that such powers should not be given to agencies which have the privilege of misusing their powers in many instances.

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