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ISLAMABAD:
The incumbent government on Friday was successful in passing the National Accountability (NAB) Amendment bill 2021 in the Senate, despite objections from the opposition.
Minister for Law Dr Farogh Naseem presented the NAB Amendment bill, which was approved by the upper house.
“This bill is being passed for everyone across the board, not for a single person,” he stated.
Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari presented the Protection Amendment bill 2021 – against harassment of women in the workplace – Justice System for Adolescents Amendment bill, National Commission for Protection of Rights Amendment bill and Islamabad Capital Protection of Children Amendment Bill before the House.
The chairperson of the Senate referred all the bills to their respective committees.
The Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals bill was passed with 35 votes in favour and 29 against.
Minister of State Ali Mohammed Khan introduced the amendment bills related to the Higher Education Commission in the house which were passed by majority vote.
Commotion in upper house
During the session, Ali Mohammed Khan lamented that it was as if Senate Chairperson Sadiq Sanjrani was only the opposition’s chairperson, as he passed on all bills presented by the ruling government to their respective committees.
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“I am the chairman for the upper house, including both the government and the opposition. All members of the Senate are worthy of respect to me,” the chairperson replied.
Leader of the House Dr Shehzad Waseem said that the opposition claimed to respect the chairperson – for which he was grateful – but their respect was selective.
“They are respectful when the decision is in their favor, but term all things won through a majority as ‘bulldozing’,” Shehzad added.
Objections and protests broke out in the house when the government presented its supplementary agenda.
Upon receiving copies of the agenda, members of the opposition ripped them apart, flung the papers towards chairperson Sanjrani, and continued their vehement protests.
The chairperson was forced to adjourn the session following the disorder.
Earlier this week, the National Assembly passed seven bills despite agitation by the opposition parties over lack of quorum.
Two ordinances relating to the extension of the tenure of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman and an application of the National Accountability (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 were also introduced in the House, which met under the chairmanship of MNA Amjad Ali Khan.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari were also in attendance.
The opposition parties called out the lack of quorum thrice. However, the government managed to meet the quorum twice.