ISLAMABAD:
The National Assembly passed a resolution seeking extension in the Pakistan Army Act (Amendment) Ordinance 2015 for 120 days in a session marred by sloganeering and a walkout by lawmakers from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), according to sources.
The move also triggered a verbal duel between a senior federal minister and MQM leaders, sources claimed further.
According to the Pakistan Army Act (Amendment) Ordinance, which was promulgated in the last week of February this year, judges of the military courts will have the discretion to decide whether the proceedings will be open or in-camera. Similarly, judges, lawyers and witnesses will be given security and protection, reportedly.
The MQM MPs started protesting when Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif stood up to table the resolution. Angered by the protest, Asif said it was a politically motivated outcry as the MQM lawmakers fear “they can be tried under the law for their wrongdoings”. The ordinance is a part of the National Action Plan against terrorism which all political parties had already acquiesced to support, according to sources.
Disregarding the sloganeering, the defence minister read out the resolution in the house. Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi tried to soothe the frayed tempers and restore order to the house – but to no avail. Abbasi also cited the special powers he enjoys under the rules to allow passage of such a resolution.
Although the house passed the resolution with majority vote, lawmakers from PTI and MQM said the government should have introduced a bill instead of extending the ordinance through a resolution.
