ISLAMABAD: The Senate has unanimously passed the “Contempt of Parliament Bill, 2023”, which envisages punishment for violating the sanctity of parliament.
The Contempt of Parliament Bill was tabled by Senator Kauda Babar and was approved with a unanimous vote along with several other bills.
The Senate passed eight bills within a single day including the “Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2023” where up to five-year imprisonment will be awarded for ridiculing the Pakistan Army and judiciary through any medium.
The other bills include “The Contempt of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) Bill, 2023”, “The Horizon University Bill, 2023”, “National University for Security Sciences, Islamabad bi11,2022”, “NFC Institute of Engineering and Technology Multan (Amendment) Bill” 2023”, Pakistan Institute of Management, Sciences and Technology Bill, 2023,” “The Pakistan Nursing Council (Amendment) Bill, 2023” and “The Trade Organizations (Amendment) Bill, 2022.”
Contempt of Parliament
In May this year, the National Assembly passed the Contempt of Parliament Bill 2023 with a majority vote. The bill was introduced in the lower house and was presented by the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges chairman Qasim Noon.
Talking on the floor, Qasim Noon raised questions on the supremacy of the parliament. He said those disrespecting the lower house of the parliament should be held accountable.
The National Assembly earlier gave clause-wise approval of the Bill which envisages a punishment of two to six years and a fine of one million rupees for any violation. The law will apply to government officials, state institutions, and the general public.
A parliamentary committee comprising 24 members, with equal share from the treasury and the opposition benches, would inquire into the cases, The committee will then suggest punishment that the leader of the house will finalize.
