The government passed four bills, including the Business Organizations Amendment Bill, 2021, during Friday’s joint session of parliament, despite disruption caused by opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawmakers ( PTI).
The session, chaired by President Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, began an hour later than scheduled, Express News reported. The PTI legislators created a ruckus in the house, holding banners and openly opposing the proceedings.
Prominent figures including Senate President Yusuf Raza Gilani, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Sherry Rehman were present.
However, Bilawal Bhutto arrived after the session was over.
Opposition members requested the right to speak on points of order, but the speaker denied the opposition leader the microphone, sparking protests. Opposition members chanted slogans rejecting the PECA Law during the session.
As protests and sloganeering intensified, the proceedings were severely disrupted, forcing the president to wear headphones to continue the session.
Commerce Minister Jam Kamal introduced the Trade Organizations Amendment Bill, 2021 and the Import and Export Regulation Amendment Bill, 2023, both of which were passed.
Senator Manzoor Kakar introduced the National Institute of Excellence Bill, 2024, which was passed, along with the National Institute of Technology Bill, 2023.
The joint session was suspended until February 12. The session lasted a total of 18 minutes, during which four bills were passed in just nine minutes.
Four bills approved, four postponed
Of the eight bills introduced during the session, four were approved and four were postponed.
Approved invoices:
- Business Organizations Amendment Bill 2021
- National Institute of Technology Bill 2023
- National Institute of Excellence Bill 2024
- Import and Export Regulation Amendment Bill 2023
Deferred invoices:
- National Human Development Commission Amendment Bill 2023
- NFC Institute of Engineering and Technology Multan Amendment Bill 2023
- National Skills University Islamabad Amendment Bill 2023
- Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology Islamabad Amendment Bill 2023
