NA rejects bill seeking to bar disqualified members from heading political parties
- By Web Desk -
- Nov 21, 2017
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Tuesday rejected a bill presented by opposition lawmakers seeking to ban disqualified members from heading political parties, ARY News reported.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) legislator Naveed Qamar presented the bill in the National Assembly seeking amendment in Election Bill 2017 which allows disqualified members to head political parties, a provision opposition thinks was only inserted to facilitate former PM Nawaz Sharif.
98 NA members voted in favour of the bill while 163 opposed the bill.
Pakistan’s Senate and National Assembly last month passed Election Bill 2017 along with a controversial amendment paving way for former PM Nawaz Sharif to head the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Naveed Qamar, who presented the bill said that the “person-specific” amendment to the Election Bill 2017 which allows a disqualified person to lead political party ruins the whole system of governance.
He questioned how parliament can allow a disqualified person to dictate policy to members of the house.
It is pertinent to note here that Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed predicted that at least 40 to 50 PML-N members will not take part in voting.
‘Consipracy foiled’
As soon as the opposition’s bill was rejected by the house, former PM’s daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif tweeted that “for the first time in Pakistan, democracy is foiling one conspiracy after another”.
“I salute those who stayed on Nawaz Sharif’s side despite pressure and threats,” added Maryam Nawaz.
پاکستان میں پہلی بار جمہوریت اپنے خلاف سازشوں کو پے درپے شکست دے رہی ھے ۔
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) November 21, 2017
ہر قسم کے دباو اور دھمکیوں کو برداشت کرکے نوازشریف کے ساتھ ثابت قدم رہنے والوں کو سلام –
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) November 21, 2017
A win for #democracy, a win for the system ,a win for parliament and a win for Pakistan pic.twitter.com/rQFFdtoP31
— Maiza Hameed (@MaizaHameed) November 21, 2017
The National Assembly Session has been prorogued for an indefinite period after the development.