ISLAMABAD: The Senate approved another Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Bill amid protest from the Opposition in the House.
Federal Minister for Railways Minister Azam Khan Swati tabled a motion seeking permission to introduce the Mutual Legal Assistance (Criminal Matters) Amendment Bill, the opposition members opposed the move. The motion was put for voting through division and was carried by 43 against 33 votes, marking first blow to the opposition in the day.
Senator Mushtaq Ahmad of Jamaat-i-Islami proposed some amendments saying the bill was against fundamental rights, constitution, principles of natural justice and national interest, but his suggestions were rejected by a voice vote. The bill was passed by majority vote as the opposition kept on expressing its reservations.
Saadia Abbasi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz was also among those who were opposing the bill, but she gave up her amendments.
The statement of objects and reasons of the bill reads: “Increase in transnational organized crime has made it necessary for international community and Pakistan to improve effectiveness of legal instruments. Lack of uniformity in law and weak coordination mechanism between countries affects combating of crimes across borders, in order to overcome these challenges, essential legal cover is required. International cooperation in criminal matters through mutual legal assistance and extradition is intended to bridge existing gaps in respective countries toward effective law enforcement. The requested state will provide mutual legal support to the requesting state by executing necessary actions on its territory in any specific criminal case warranting shared assistance.”
Senator Ahmad called it a black day in the parliamentary history of the country, with a view the government could take action against a person by confiscating his property made through money laundering etc. under the law without issuing him a notice and this was against the principles of justice.
Senator Ahmad alleged that the government was paving way for the release of Dr Shakeel Afridi and Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav through the proposed bill but the allegation was rejected by the government later.
Responding to the opposition, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Senator Mohsin Aziz said the bill blocked the way for money launderers and thieves. He argued that if demand for prior notice was met, the accused would get time to transfer his ill-gotten assets to his family members.
The house also passed a bill about the regulation of generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. The bill was moved by Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar.
Senator Raza Rabbani raised an objection against a clause under which NEPRA itself would be empowered to notify power tariff if the government failed to do so in a stipulated time, insisting that the government should retain its authority. He however did not press his amendment to this effect.
The already enraged members of the opposition rose in their seats to voice their protest when Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan brought two bills in the house through supplementary agenda for their consideration at once.
It was pointed out that one of the bills had been found by the standing committee concerned to be ‘not fit for passage’ and in such a case the bills under the rules were referred to a select committee.
