Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Tuesday passed three bills amidst strong resistance of the joint opposition criticising the government for bulldozing important legislations in haste on the basis of its majority. The haste they apprehend would badly affect the people in future.
The Minister for Health Shaukat Yousafzai, presented The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety Authority Bill, 2014 and minister for Revenue Ali Amin Gandapur, moved The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tenancy (Amendment) Bill, 2014, while Minister for Agriculture, Shahram Khan moved The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Farm Services Centres Bill, 2014.
Though the joint opposition did not put off strong resistance in the first Bill moved by Shahram Khan but later they started strong protest against the government for passing their Bills in haste without even following rules and tradition of the house. They said they were not opposing the Bills but were against the government's attitude for making legislation in hurry.
The parliamentary leader of ANP Sardar Hussain Babak said bulldozing legislation on the basis of majority was neither good practice nor tradition of this House asking the chair to take all stakeholders into confidence before making legislation. He also complained against the speaker for supporting the unnecessary haste of the ruling alliance. The Speaker Asad Qaisar was quick to clarify that all the opposition's amendments had been accommodated and he was treating every member equally.
The Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) parliamentary leader Sikandar Sherpao said since the legislation was being made for future and for entire province it should be made after threadbare discussion and should have reflected collective wisdom. He said that any legislation in haste would affect the people and its economy suggesting the government to refer these Bill to select committees.
Anisa Zeb of QWP referred to rules 85 saying they could debate the Bills even after its passage and quoted the famous saying; "Justice in hurry is- justice burry." She also questioned as to how many members from the ruling alliance have read these bills suggesting the chair to review it in select committee instead of passing 15 Bills within short time.
Minister for Information Shah Farman said the opposition has discussed important bills including Local government, Right to Information Bills etc but they have no amendments and that was why the opposition could not move any amendment despite the fact these Bills were tabled months before. He said the government could not delay legislation asking the opposition to present amendment if they had any.
Objecting government's response, the ANP's Sardar Babak observed the government was following the policy of datelines, which should not be followed while making legislation. He said the government passed the Accountability in haste but it did not benefit the people asking the government not to make it an ego issue.
The Minister for Health Shaukat Yousafzai defended The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety Authority Bill, 2014 saying the bills had been presented after through consideration asking the opposition to pinpoint any weakness or amendment. He briefly highlighted the Bill when the Speaker directed to brief the members regarding the Bill. The JUI-F's Manawar Khan Marwat was quick to criticise Shaukat Yousufzai saying perhaps the minister himself did not know what he was presenting and how it benefits the people. The PTI's Sardar Idrees said the Bills had been tabled in January but none of the opposition moved any amendment. He said no one had imposed restriction on any speaker to debate the Bills section wise.
Shaukat Yousafzai said the passage of Bill would curb the way of fake food being transported from different routs and affected health of citizen. Arif Yousaf, Dr Mehrtaj Roghani supported passage of Bills. The QWP's Sikandar Sherpao said they would not allow the government to pass The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tenancy (Amendment) Bill, 2014 as it would create law and order situation and create problems throughout the province. He was not satisfied with what he termed "sugar quoted" statement, wherein he said they would have to move.