Pakistan : Extension of seven ordinances approved amid protests by opposition, allies

National assembly

Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said that all bills and ordinances will go to the committee and return to the House for approval.

In the session of the National Assembly on Friday, the resolutions regarding the approval of the 120-day extension in seven ordinances were approved, regarding which the Law Minister says that all the bills and ordinances will go to the committee and come back to the house for approval. will

At the beginning of the meeting presided over by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, five women members elected on specific seats took oath.

During the meeting, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazir Tarar presented the Civil Court Ordinance Amendment Bill 2024 and the Legal Aid and Justice Authority Amendment Bill 2024 in the House.

Pakistan People's Party leader Qadir Patel expressed reservations about the extension of the ordinance, on which Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said that these are matters related to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in this regard, the country may suffer.

"All these ordinances were made by the caretaker government, which went beyond the mandate," Kadir Patel said.

He also demanded the formation of a committee on the decisions taken by the caretaker government.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) said that the extension of the Ordinance on IMF's EMA is urgently being sought. Later, the JUI demanded that the ordinance be introduced in the form of regular bills.

During the meeting, Senator Azam Nazir Tarar presented seven ordinances in the House, which continued to be strongly opposed by the opposition. The opposition started chanting 'No, No' and demanded a vote on the resolution motion.

Azam Nazir Tarar also presented a resolution to extend the period of these ordinances for another 120 days.

Meanwhile, Syed Naveed Qamar, a member of Pakistan People's Party, the government's ally, also raised objections to the ordinances and said that he was deeply concerned about some ordinances.

According to Naveed Qamar: 'If you want to get approval like this, then get it done sitting at home. An ordinance should not be passed in such a way that it is not revocable.'

The Speaker counted on the motion of the resolution to further extend the duration of the Ordinance. 130 members voted in favor of the motion while 63 voted against it.

Later, Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation Amendment Ordinance of 2023, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation Amendment Ordinance, Pakistan Postal Services Management Board Amendment Ordinance, National Highway Authority Amendment Ordinance, Criminal Law Amendment Ordinance, Privatization Commission Amendment Ordinance and establishment of Telecommunications Appellate Tribunal Authority. The resolution to extend 120 days in the Ordinance was approved.

While the ordinances were being passed, members of the Sunni Ittehad Council started protesting in the House and the opposition tore up copies of the ordinance and the agenda of the meeting.

Speaker National Assembly warned the opposition members and asked them to stop tearing paper and throwing it in the House. 'You are forcing me to take disciplinary action.'

Ayaz Sadiq further said: 'All parties including the opposition will be represented in this committee. I also say to the opposition that this anti-nationalism will have to be left. Writing letters to the IMF and the European Union will do nothing.'

All partition resolutions were passed during this fierce opposition protest.

Omar Ayub not allowed to speak: Asad Qaiser

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf-backed Sunni Ittehad Council leader Asad Qaiser said that 'Shahbaz Sharif used to talk for hours when he was the opposition leader. Omar Ayub is the leader of the opposition yet he is not allowed to speak. On which the speaker said that he has not yet become the leader of the opposition, the process of scrutiny is ongoing.

Addressing Naveed Qamar, Asad Qaiser said that 'You used to say that we will not go against the law and rules, you are also present in the House today and what is happening here.'

Umar Ayub Khan, nominated candidate for joint opposition leader and leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf, said that what the ordinance is should also be seen. An Ordinance on Hostel Services has been introduced.

Umar Ayub raised the question and said: 'Tell me on oath how many people in this House have read this ordinance? These government people are creating their own frameworks. Tell the ordinance that is being presented in the National Shipping Company in which committee has it been presented? People sitting in this house tell me how many people have read it?'

Prime Minister of Law Nazir Tarar said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued instructions to form a committee on this issue.

During Azam Nazir Tarar's speech, the opposition started protesting again. The Law Minister said that all the Bills and Ordinances will go to the Committee and come back to the House, they will be approved by the Parliament.

People's Party leader Khursheed Shah said that he is in agreement with the opposition. Governments do not run on ordinances, this House is for legislation. The record from 2008 to 2022 should be taken out and seen in which period these presidential ordinances appeared the most?

On the other hand, the National Assembly has unanimously approved the resolution condemning the ongoing Israeli brutality in Gaza-Palestine.

According to the text of the resolution: 'The House declares today the International Day Against Islamophobia and condemns the Israeli aggression in Palestine and calls on the international community to call for a ceasefire on the regime.'

Later, the session of the National Assembly was adjourned indefinitely.