The Senate has rejected the proposed bills of FATF despite the fact that the bills were passed by the National Assembly. It is believed that in National assembly there was covert support from the opposition that helped passing the bills. However in the Senate the situation was altogether different. PPP and PMLN refused to support the bill in the senate. A commoner like me wonders what actually happened in the House. FATF bill is something more important than the usual business and Opposition understood the importance of these bills. That’s why it is believed there was a covert support by the Opposition in the lower House. What went wrong in the Senate is the ultimate conundrum?
Apparently there was no difference deep rooted. It was perhaps the matter of attitude that complicated the situation. Generally the treasury benches have to show some gratitude towards the Opposition to get its support for the purpose of legislation. But the treasury benches don’t deem it that important. The government and the opposition always remain at daggers drawn. In a parliamentary type of governance this attitude serves no one. Same is what we are witnessing.
The Opposition, in principle, perhaps has no objection to this bill. The objection is not on the clauses of the bills; it is on the attitude of some hawks of the treasury benches. As per media reports the opposition had two simple demands:
- The leader of the House should withdraw his remarks against their leadership.
- The laid-down procedure for legislation should be followed.
The procedure was not that lengthy. Only a two days’ notice was required and the opposition was insisting to follow the procedure. This demand could have been accepted. Now as the senate has rejected these bills the procedure has become more lengthy and complicated. The government will have to call a joint session to pass these bills and that will take more time. At least more than two days.
The nation has to pay heavy amount on session of the Parliament and it rightly demands that prudence and sagacity must prevail in running the state affairs.