ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Tuesday passed Inquiry Commission Bill 2016 amid walkout by the opposition lawmakers.
Yesterday, the government failed to get the Inquiry Commission Bill 2016 passed from the National Assembly due to lack of quorum.
However, today the treasury managed to bring in the required numbers of lawmakers to the lower house to pass the legislation.
Law Minister Zahid Hamid tabled the Bill in the House. Amid opposition’s protest, the House passed the Bill with majority votes.
Under the law, Inquiry Commission has been give additional and special powers. The commission would have all the powers of a criminal court under Criminal Procedure Code. The commission will also have the powers to constitute a team of administration officials or experts of certain field, which will help the commission in inquiry.
Law Minister told the House that under the law, the federal government would appoint members of the commission through notification. The commission will have powers equal to high court to initiate contempt proceedings against anyone defying the commission’s orders, or maligning and scandalizing it.
The federal and provincial governments and authorities will be bound to assist the commission. The final or sub-reports of the commission can be published.
The opposition did not participate in the proceeding to pass the bills. PPP MNA Shazia Marri before the voting on the bill pointed out quorum. However, after count it turned out that there are enough members in the House to meet the quorum.
But, Marri challenged the count. Upon this, the speaker after getting the doors of the Assembly Hall locked asked Ms Marri to count herself the members present inside the hall.
Even after the second count, it turned out that there are enough members in the house. After this, the house approved the Inquiry Commission Bill 2016 with majority vote.
The National Assembly also passed Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 2016 and Public-Private Partnership Authority Bill 2016.
After the passage of the Bills, PPP MNA Aijaz Jakhrani protested against the attitude of the government, saying that the government was not ready to give any importance to the opposition.
He said that there was no democracy rather monarchy in the country.
Earlier, the National Assembly passed a unanimous resolution expressing deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Cuban leader Fidel Castro. The resolution moved by Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanvir Hussain stating that the House honoured Fidel Castro’s struggle for the establishment of an egalitarian society.
The resolution said Pakistan values Fidel Castro’s unconditional support to Pakistan during the earthquake of 2005 and granting over one thousand scholarships to medical students of Pakistan.
