After strong opposition
\nSenators term it \u2018threat to democracy\u2019 with far-reaching consequences for not one but all political parties, citizens
\n ISLAMABAD
\nSenate chairperson Sadiq Sanjrani dropped the Prevention of Violent Extremism Bill 2023 on Sunday amid strong opposition by legislators on both sides of the aisle.
\nThe bill was tabled by Minister of State for Law Shahadat Awan on behalf of the interior minister, prompting opposition lawmakers to climb atop their seats in protest. Calling the session to order, the chairperson said let us decide on whether to forward the bill to the relevant committee. He assured legislatures that they would be given the opportunity to speak on the matter.
\nQuestioning why the bill was being tabled on a Sunday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Humayun Saeed remarked on the importance of the bill.
\n\u201cIt will affect people\u2019s lives and have far-reaching consequences,\u201d he said, noting that the bill introduced by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah appears to be aimed at preventing the PTI from partaking in the upcoming general elections.
\n\u201cAll clauses of this bill reek of targeting the PTI,\u201d he added.
\nMembers of the ruling coalition under the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) banner, Jamait Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) and National Party lawmakers also opposed the legislation being moved hastily.
\nPDM\u2019s Senator Kamran Murtaza observed that any such legislation required for the allied parties to be taken into confidence. \u201cYou are cutting off your own hands with this legislation,\u201d he said, adding that he would raise his opposition if fundamental rights were to be curtailed in this manner.
\nMurtaza was of the view that this bill would raise problems for all parties in the future and it was in contradiction to the Constitution of Pakistan.
\nSimilarly, National Party (NP) Senator Tahir Bizenjo took objection over not being taken into confidence over the legislation. He lamented that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) appeared to be making decisions unilaterally. Warning that his party would stage a walkout if the bill was tabled, he termed it an \u201copen attack\u201d on democracy and registered his \u201cstrong opposition\u201d to it.
\nThese sentiments were also echoed by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Senator Mushtaq Ahmad, who noted that this bill was not just against one but all political parties. \u201cThose who wish for this bill to come into effect are wanting to bury democracy through the parliament itself,\u201d he said. Meanwhile, Climate Minister and PPP leader Senator Sherry Rehman attempted to defend the holding of today\u2019s session by citing precedent. However, she added that the Senate could introduce amendments to the bill after the assembly\u2019s term ended. \u201cNo one likes hasty legislation,\u201d she remarked.
\nWhereas PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui observed that as members of the ruling party, there was perhaps a \u201ccompulsion\u201d that they would vote for the bills. He said they would do so but commented on the vast scope of the bill.
\nPointing out that the bill had 33 articles and 100 sub-clauses, he noted that these would be applicable on all – politicians, and the common man.
\nNoting that this bill had come directly to the Senate, he said it was incumbent upon the upper house to go over the bill thoroughly before referring it to the National Assembly.
\nWhile in agreement with its aims and objectives, he said they feared that if it is approved in its current state, without being referred to the relevant committee, \u201cit may perhaps be difficult to escape its clutches in the future\u201d.
\nDuring the session, Chairman Sanjrani asked the senators whether the bill was opposed to which the house replied in the affirmative. \u201cI drop this bill, whether or not the government does,\u201d he said.
\nMeanwhile, two other bills on the agenda, Toshakhana Regulation and Management Bill 2023 and the Pakistan Airports Authority Bill 2023 were passed by the upper house.
\nThe Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority Bill 2023, the Pakistan Ruet-e-Hilal Bill and the Pakistan Air Safety Investigation Bill were also presented before the Senate and all three were referred to the relevant committees. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
After strong opposition Senators term it \u2018threat to democracy\u2019 with far-reaching consequences for not one but all political parties, citizens ISLAMABAD Senate chairperson Sadiq Sanjrani dropped the Prevention of Violent Extremism Bill 2023 on Sunday amid strong opposition by legislators on both sides of the aisle. The bill was tabled by Minister of State for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-346262","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n