Legislation regarding Army Act carried out in hurry while violating parliamentary procedure: Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan

ISLAMABAD, July 28 (SABAH): Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan’s senior leader Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan has said that legislation in connection with Army Act has been carried out in hurry while violating parliamentary procedure. He said that like the bill passed regarding extension in tenure of former army chief general Qamar Javed Bajwa, in this matter too the principle of quality legislation was ignored.

Talking to “SABAH” here on Friday, Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan said that it is significant legislation in nature that is why bill must have been sent to the relevant standing committee as there was a need of detailed discussion in this regard.

He said the legislation undertaken in hurry doesn’t prove to be durable and long-lasting and added the members were not given proper time for taking their input.

Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan remarked, “I have requested the Chairman Senate Mir Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani that legislation should not be carried out in haste and that procedure of the House must not be violated. This bill must have been sent to the committee. Chairman Senate should have taken up amendments put forth by me and then input of the members should have been taken but the amendments were totally ignored which is tantamount to ignoring and bulldozing the legislation.”

Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan made it clear, “Only I had presented amendments regarding the bill. No other member of the Senate did present the amendments.”

He noted, “I have requested Chairman Senate that violation of the rules should not be done and don’t put in place legislation in hurry as it would affect the standard of the legislation. If this legislation is being done in favour of the country the entire house is patriot. Senate should be relied on and the bill should have been sent to the committee but it was not done.”

Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan maintained, “I have serious reservations on some amendments as some points have been inserted in Army Act that needed detailed discussion. The role of army has been mentioned in national economic production which may be discussed as army has several financial institutions which are being safeguarded. There is a clause on national secret against the civilians which should also be discussed.”