Islamabad: Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani stopped Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi from introducing a bill and strongly questioned the caretaker government’s power to make laws.
The Senate chairman postponed discussion on Motion Pictures (Amendment) Bill moved by the parliamentary affairs and information minister, following strong objections raised by the members, who suggested that legislation was not the purview of the caretaker government.
The chairman also suspended the Question Hour. He pointed out that it was for the first time in the parliamentary history of the country, after the introduction of the caretakers in the Constitution, that an interim government has sought to move a bill in the Senate.
Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, on a point of order, stressed that caretaker governments do not have the power to make laws.
“This is the first time in the parliamentary history a caretaker government has brought a bill in the Senate,” he said.
“Only a government commanding majority in either House of the parliament can move a bill,” Mr Rabbani insisted, adding that in a parliamentary form of government, only members can move a bill in a House.
However, Solangi replied that Senator Rabbani's reservations were baseless, as the Constitution allowed necessary and emergency measures.
Senator Rabbani questioned the necessity of the bill to run the affairs of the government.
The law also restricts the caretaker government to activities that are “routine, non-controversial and urgent” and can be reversed by the incoming government.
“Legislation when one house is non-existent is not a routine business. What is the urgency in this matter?”
On this Solangi replied that he stood by the principles of the Constitution, law and democracy and “whatever decision the house takes on the bill, we will respect it”.
The Senate chairman adjourned the matte observing that the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) would be consulted and a ruling would be given on Friday. The chair then adjourned further discussion on the bill.
