ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly cleared a motion seeking the renewal of seven ordinances on Friday, despite protests from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC)-led opposition in the lower chamber of parliament.
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar introduced seven ordinances and two bills in the House, prompting a fierce reaction from opposition MPs.
The bills presented to the House included the Civil Courts Amendment Bill, 2024, and the Legal Aid and Justice Authority Amendment Bill, 2024. The chair referred the legislation to the appropriate standing committees.
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, and the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023.
the Privatization Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023; and the Establishment of Telecommunication Appellate Tribunal Ordinance, 2023.
Speaking on a point of order, SIC leader Omar Ayub Khan stated that the opposition opposed the ordinances. He requested the speaker to photograph those who supported the ordinances, claiming they were “passed to sell Pakistan”.
According to SIC’s Ayub, politicians must first understand what the ordinance is.
“Tell me what it was, and tell me under oath how many people in the House have read it,” he asked the MPs sitting on the treasury benches. He stated that a privatization ordinance had been introduced in the National Assembly.
He claimed that even members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) were unaware of their actions.
