ISLAMABAD: The joint session of Parliament, initially scheduled for February 18, has been postponed indefinitely, according to an official notification.
In a previous joint session, the government fast-tracked the passage of legislation, approving four bills in just nine minutes amid loud protests from the opposition. The session, which lasted only 18 minutes, saw eight bills tabled, with four passed and the remainder deferred for further discussion.
The opposition, led by PTI members, expressed their dissent through noisy protests, tearing up copies of the agenda and throwing them in the House. Despite their vocal opposition, they offered little substantive debate on the proposed bills.
Seizing the moment, the government swiftly passed several key pieces of legislation, including the Trade Regulations Amendment Bill 2021 and the National Institute of Technology Establishment Bill. These bills had been returned from the Presidency for reconsideration.
Federal Commerce Minister Jam Kamal introduced the Trade Regulations Amendment Bill, which was approved almost immediately. Similarly, MNA Zahra Wadood Fatemi presented the National Institute of Technology Bill, and Senator Manzoor Kakar tabled the National Excellence Institute Bill. Both were passed with minimal discussion, along with the Export Control Act Amendment Bill.
Deferred Bills
Several bills were postponed for the next joint session, including:
- National Commission for Human Rights Amendment Bill
- NFC Institute of Engineering and Technology Multan Bill
- National Skills University Bill
- Federal Urdu University Amendment Bill
These bills were set for consideration in the now-canceled February 18 session.
The swift pace of legislative activity and the postponement of sessions have drawn criticism from the opposition, highlighting the growing tension within the parliamentary proceedings.
