Key Points
- Opposition raised objections but was unable to block government-led bills
- Ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif also attends the session
ISLAMABAD: Amid hullaballoo from the opposition lawmakers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the federal government of Pakistan passed four key bills in a joint parliamentary session on Friday, including the impactful Trade Organisations Amendment Bill 2021.
The session, chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, began an hour late, as PTI lawmakers stirred up chaos, brandishing placards and vocally opposing the agenda.
Prominent attendees included Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. Bilawal Bhutto arrived after the session concluded.
Opposition members demanded the chance to address on point-of-order, but the speaker denied the microphone to their leader, which resulted in full-throated chants against the treasury benches.
As the uproar escalated, the Speaker ordered to put on headphones to maintain order and continue the session.
Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal presented the Trade Organisations Amendment Bill 2021 and the Imports and Exports Regulation Amendment Bill 2023, both of which were approved.
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Similarly, Senator Manzoor Kakar presented the National Excellence Institute Bill 2024, which was passed alongside the National Institute of Technology Bill 2023.
The tumultuous joint session was adjourned after just 18 minutes, with four bills passed in a swift nine minutes
Deferred Bills
Another four bills were deferred, including National Commission for Human Development Amendment Bill 2023, NFC Institute of Engineering and Technology Multan Amendment Bill 2023, National Skills University Islamabad Amendment Bill 2023, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science, and Technology Islamabad Amendment Bill 2023.
