National Assembly on Monday passed a resolution to extend Pakistan Army (amendment) Ordinance, 2015 for another 120 days amid protest and walkout by Muttahida Qaumi Movement. The MQM members started protest in the house when Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stood up to present a resolution for extension of the Army Ordinance for another 120 days.
"This is an insult to the parliament as the government is presenting the resolution in the house despite suspension of the routine business," said MQM member Rashid Godil while opposing the resolution. All MQM members present in the house stood up and started raising slogans against treasury benches. "Shame on you, don't pass the controversial ordinance through the resolution," they said vociferously. Amid protests and furor, the defence minister read out the resolution in the house. Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi tried to calm down the situation but to no avail. The resolution was passed, but the MQM members said the government should have brought a bill in the house instead of extending the ordinance through a resolution.
The defence minister said that a bill on the ordinance has already been tabled in the house while this is a technical requirement to pass the resolution. "This is a temporary arrangement and the bill will be tabled in the assembly soon," he said. The minister said that the MQM members' protest is politically motivated as they fear "they can be tried under the law for their wrongdoings." He said that the ordinance is part of the National Action Plan and all parties had agreed to pass it. In response to Khawaja Asif's taunts, Godil said that they know as to how he (the defence minister) was begging for an apology during the dharna days.
"You (treasury benches) talk of Pakistan but keep distracting the nation on petty issues," Godil said, adding that the treasury benches should respect the MQM members too as they are also members of the august house. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that the members should not confuse the matter as the bill would soon be passed by the National Assembly. "Objectives and reasons for the ordinance have already been explained and the members shouldn't try to politicise it," he said. Pakistan People's Party member Ejaz Jakhrani said the government should have taken the Business Advisory Committee into confidence before presenting the resolution on the ordinance in the house.
PTI member Shireen Mazari also said the parliament is in session and the government should have tabled a bill in the National Assembly instead of bringing a resolution. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said that calling attention notice and question hours were suspended but the government can bring its business in the house. The speaker also asked Federal Minister Riaz Pirzada to reconcile the MQM members and bring them back to the house. The minister later informed the speaker that the MQM members are ready to come back to the house on Tuesday but only after having a brief conversation with the Speaker.
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