- After efforts at consensus building
There are indications that the Army Act Amendment Bill will sail through the Senate and National Assembly by consensus. The haste shown by PML-N leader Kh Asif to extend unconditional support to the Government bill drew negative comments from a cross section of people. PPP chief Bilawal-Bhutto-Zardari took Kh Asif to task for issuing the statement without consulting the rest of the opposition. He maintained that it was the responsibility of the leader of the opposition to unite the components and maintain consensus among its ranks. Mr Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also criticised the government for being confused over how to tackle the issue. While the government had brought a bill in Parliament, it was incomprehensible why it had simultaneously moved a petition before the Supreme Court seeking suspension of its earlier judgment related to the COAS’ service term. According to the PPP chief, had the government taken the opposition on board, the bill could have been passed much earlier without hassle. The PPP, he said, wanted the bill to be passed through due legislative process. On Friday former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also told Kh Asif in a letter that neglecting the rules of procedure on a highly vital issue would not help anyone and an undue hurry in the passage of the Army Act Amendment Bill would create an impression that Parliament had become just a rubber stamp.
Sanity prevailed as the PTI agreed to pass the bill through normal legislative process. After presenting the bill in the National Assembly, the lower house was prorogued for a day. Meanwhile the bill would be put before Parliament’s Standing Committee on Defence. Once it is passed by the Standing Committee, it would go to the National Assembly and the Senate. This might delay the legislation by a few days, but the law would have the aura of consensus.
A similar procedure should be followed in legislation regarding the NAB law. The NAB Ordinance should also be first referred to the related standing committee where the opposition’s suggestions should also be taken into account. The same pattern needs to be followed in making a law regarding the selections of the members of The Election Commission and the Chief Election Commissioner.
