Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani has dropped the government’s Prevention of Violent Extremism (Amendment) Bill from the day’s agenda after some senators raised objection over it and the way it was presented.
Chairing a session of the Upper House on Sunday, Sanjrani said: “I’m dropping the bill whether the government does it or not.”
He had sought the House’s opinion on the bill before making the decision.
Earlier, a ruling coalition partner of the PML-N, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, also opposed the bill.
JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza said on the floor of the House that the bill would be an insult to all the parties.
“Fundamental rights will be affected in this bill,’ he maintained, adding: “I don’t know about my party, but I can’t support this bill.”
He lamented that the government did not even take its allies into confidence over the bill.
Another JUI-F senator, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, said the allied parties won’t know what would happen to them tomorrow.
“The JUI opposes this bill,” he remarked, adding if the bill was approved they would stage a walkout.
The Jamaat-e-Islami also opposed the bill. Senator Mushtaq Ahmed said the bill was not only against the PTI, but all political parties.
He called the bill the last nail in the coffin of democracy. “The government did not even take its allies into confidence,” he maintained.
This bill will become a noose around every political party tomorrow, the JI leader said.
Senator Tahir Bizinjo said the bill was an attack on democracy, adding whoever talks about the supremacy of the Constitution will be the first target.
He then said he would stage a token walkout if the bill was approved.
Dr Humayun Mohmand of the PTI claimed the bill was aimed at barring his party from contesting elections. He demanded the bill be sent to the committee concerned first.
Bill part of agenda
The Senate was scheduled to take up a 20-point agenda during the Sunday session.
According to the agenda of the session released, an amendment bill regarding prevention of violent extremism is on the agenda, as well as one for the establishment of a Pakistan Aviation Authority.
The House is also expected to approve the Pakistan Air Safety Investigation Amendment Bill, while the Pakistan Crescent Sighing Amendment Bill is also expected to be presented for approval.
Moreover, reports of several standing committees will also be presented in the Upper House.
