First Moral defeat of The PTI Government

Posted on November 13, 2021
Muhammad Arif : Chairman Centre of Advisory Services for Islamic Banking and Finance (CAIF), Former Head of FSCD SBP, Former Head of Research ArifHabib Investments and Member IFSB Task Force for development of Islamic Money Market, Former Member of Access to Justice Fund Supreme Court of Pakistan

The PTI governmenthad to face embarrassment in the National Assembly during the legislative business on a private members day.

The opposition, sensing majority in the House at the time of legislation, challenged members of treasury benches for opposing the bill moved by opposition MNA Syed Javed Hasnain.

The PML-N lawmaker was interested in Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 which will pay way for amendment in Article 63-A of the Constitution. It wanted to discourage the trend of switching political loyalties. The bill was opposed by Parliamentary Secretary for Law and Justice MalikaBokhari.

The chair, on request of the opposition, conducted voting and opposition members managed to defeat the government side.

Through the voice vote, the government attempted to block sending of his amendment to the relevant committee. But the opposition pressed for the head count and eventually established the presence of 13 more members, 117, against the combined number of 104, present on the treasury benches. At the time of legislation, the opposition had 13-member majority.

An amendment in the bill will provide that a candidate contesting in general elections on an electoral symbol of a party will not be able to contest polls on any other party’s symbol for the next seven years.

PML-N’s MNA/ former speaker National Assembly AyazSadiq said that government had no majority in the House. This was moral victory of the opposition. “The opposition in the National Assembly during the legislation has been exposed. Rulers need to tender their resignations,” he remarked.

The opposition and treasury benches in the National Assembly were locked in a debate on with the opposition assailing the government for following “flawed economic policies” and the latter defending them.

Devaluation of Pakistani rupee against US dollar remained a key point during the debate, which continued during the question hour and beyond.

Khawaja Mohammad Asif, the PML-N parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, slammed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) governor for his recent remarks that devaluation of rupee had benefited six to seven million overseas Pakistanis.

Pointing out that the SBP governor did not mention what would happen to 220 million people living in the country;MrAsif said it was purely a political statement that should not have been made by an official who is in charge of the monetary policy.

The opposition members encouraged, after the defeat of the government, once again challenged the government over a bill moved by a PTI MNA AsmaQadeer. The PTI’s MNA AsmaQadeer could not introduce bill titled the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 after the deputy speaker put the same for counting.

Deputy Speaker QasimSuri said that the House had not allowed introduction of the bill after it was presented for voice vote. The PML-N member on the second time was interested in head counting on the bill. However, he did not inform the House about votes in favor and against the bill and adjourned the proceedings.

Earlier, the members introduced bills including International Institute of Science, Arts and Technology Bill, 2021; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 which pertains to appointment of judges in Supreme Court and High Court through Federal Public Service Commission; the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 for amendment in Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 and Qanun-e- Shahadat Order, 1984; the National Commission for Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

The defeat has started for PTI Government after completion of its 3 years. People has not yet come on the road against immense price hikes and bad governance but it can start any time.

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