NA passes resolution seeking extension in 7 ordinances amidst opposition tumult

The National Assembly on Friday passed a resolution seeking extension in seven ordinances amid protests by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC)-led opposition in the lower house of the parliament.

The resolution moved by Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar revived 130 votes in favour.

Meanwhile sixty-three lawmakers, mainly from the PTI-SIC, opposed it, and teard up copies of the agenda.

 

The bills laid before the House included, The Civil Courts Amendment Bill, 2024 and the Legal Aid and Justice Authority Amendment Bill, 2024.

The chair referred the bills to the standing committees concerned.

The ordinances include:

• Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (Amendment) Ordinance 2023,
• Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (Amendment) Ordinance 2023
• Pakistan Postal Services Management Board (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023,
• The National Highway Authority (Amendment) Ordinance 2023,
• The Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023
• The Privatization Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023
• And the Establishment of Telecommunication Appellate Tribunal Ordinance, 2023

The opposition labelled the assembly proceedings as “unlawful”

Speaking on the point of order, the SIC leader Omar Ayub Khan said “We reject the extension of the ordinances.” He criticised the rushed legislation, questioning if it was tantamount to selling off the country.

SIC’s Ayub said first the lawmakers must to see what the ordinance was.

“Tell me what it was, tell me under oath how many people in the House have read it,” he asked the lawmakers sitting on the treasury benches. He said an ordinance related to privatisation was introduced in the NA.

He said even Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) members did not know what they were doing.

“There are talks of selling these institutions of Pakistan, we are going on record on that,” he said.

PTI leader Asad Qaiser also condemned the hurried introduction of bills and emphasised granting more time to the opposition.

Meanwhile, Naveed Qamar of the PPP expressed reservations about the presentation and content of the ordinances, asserting, “We will not allow the rules to be violated.”