![](https://nation.com.pk/assets/thenation/images/no-image-large.jpg)
ISLAMABAD – President Arif Alvi yesterday summoned the first National Assembly session of the fourth parliamentary year to meet today [Friday], which is expected to witness protest by the opposition over recently increased petroleum products.
Despite expected uproar during the sitting, the PTI’s government with the support of coalition partners has planned heavy legislation including controversial ‘The Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2021’ in the upcoming session.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan will move a motion for the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The motion will be moved under sub-rule (7) of rule 154 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007 read with Article 70(3) of the Constitution. The Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was earlier passed by the National Assembly but not approved by the Senate within the stipulated period of 90 days and now be referred to the Joint Sitting for consideration and passage.
Election amendment bill on agenda
The joint opposition will strongly oppose legislation on this controversial bill, as it has already expressed a lot of reservation on it. In order to ensure approving legislative business in the house, the government has instructed all its members to ensure their presence in the house. The members of coalition partners have also been asked to ensure presence in the house at the time of legislation on it. According to available order of the day [agenda] for today’s National Assembly session, the government side will move ordinances related to the Federal Government Properties Management Authority.
It has also planned to introduce bills including ‘The Pakistan Baitul Mal (Amendment) Bill’, ‘The Evacuee Trust Properties (Management and Disposal) (Amendment) Bill’, ‘The Government Savings Bank (Amendment) Bill, 2021’.
According to agenda, the standing committee reports to amend the Government Savings Bank Act, 1873, ‘The Post Office National Savings Certificates (Amendment) Bill, 2021’, ‘The Post Office National Savings Certificates (Amendment) Bill, 2021’ will be moved.
In the legislative business, the government planned ‘The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019’, ‘The Higher Education Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2021], (Ordinance No. IX of 2021)’, are included in the agenda for Friday.
The government has also planned to lay a report relating to Accounts of Federation for Audit Year, 2020-21, ‘The annual report of Universal Service and Research and Development Fund of the Federal Government for the year 2019-20’.
Political and constitutional experts viewed that the heavy agenda designed for Friday’s sitting could not be completed due to expected uproar by the joint opposition and lack of time due to Juma prayer. The National Assembly sitting on Friday is normally adjourned by the speaker of the National Assembly before the Friday Prayer. The House also witnesses a thin presence in Friday’s sitting.