Senate 'drops' Prevention of Violent Extremism Bill after strong opposition

Senate chairperson Sadiq Sanjrani dropped the Prevention of Violent Extremism Bill 2023 on Sunday amid strong opposition by legislators on both sides of the aisle.  The bill was tabled by Minister of State for Law Shahadat Awan on behalf of the interior minister, prompting opposition lawmakers to climb atop their seats in protest.  Calling the session to order, the chairperson said let us decide on whether to forward the bill to the relevant committee. He assured legislatures that they would be given the opportunity to speak on the matter. Questioning why the bill was being tabled on a Sunday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Humayun Saeed remarked on the importance of the bill. "It will affect people’s lives and have far-reaching consequences," he said, noting that the bill introduced by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah appears to be aimed at preventing the PTI from partaking in the upcoming general elections. "All clauses of this bill reek of targeting the PTI," he added.  Members of the ruling coalition under the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) banner, Jamait Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) and National Party lawmakers also opposed the legislation being moved hastily.  Read Bill ratifies army role in national development PDM's Senator Kamran Murtaza observed that any such legislation required for the allied parties to be taken into confidence. “You are cutting off your own hands with this legislation,” he said, adding that he would raise his opposition if fundamental rights were to be curtailed in this manner.  Murtaza was of the view that this bill would raise problems for all parties in the future and it was in contradiction to the Constitution of Pakistan.  Similarly, National Party (NP) Senator Tahir Bizenjo took objection over not being taken into confidence over the legislation. He lamented that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) appeared to be making decisions unilaterally.  Warning that his party would stage a walkout if the bill was tabled, he termed it an “open attack” on democracy and registered his “strong opposition” to it.  These sentiments were also echoed by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Senator Mushtaq Ahmad, who noted that this bill was not just against one but all political parties. "Those who wish for this bill to come into effect are wanting to bury democracy through the parliament itself," he said.  Meanwhile, Climate Minister and PPP leader Senator Sherry Rehman attempted to defend the holding of today’s session by citing precedent. However, she added that the Senate could introduce amendments to the bill after the assembly’s term ended. “No one likes hasty legislation,” she remarked. Whereas PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui observed that as members of the ruling party, there was perhaps a “compulsion” that they would vote for the bills. He said they would do so but commented on the vast scope of the bill.  Pointing out that the bill had 33 articles and 100 sub-clauses, he noted that these would be applicable on all - politicians, and the common man.  Noting that this bill had come directly to the Senate, he said it was incumbent upon the upper house to go over the bill thoroughly before referring it to the National Assembly. While in agreement with its aims and objectives, he said they feared that if it is approved in its current state, without being referred to the relevant committee, “it may perhaps be difficult to escape its clutches in the future”. During the session, Chairman Sanjrani asked the senators whether the bill was opposed to which the house replied in the affirmative. “I drop this bill, whether or not the government does,” he said.  Meanwhile, two other bills on the agenda, Toshakhana Regulation and Management Bill 2023 and the Pakistan Airports Authority Bill 2023 were passed by the upper house. The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority Bill 2023, the Pakistan Ruet-e-Hilal Bill and the Pakistan Air Safety Investigation Bill were also presented before the Senate and all three were referred to the relevant committees.  ‘Burying democracy’  The Prevention of Violent Extremism Bill, which caused an uproar in the upper house and was dubbed as a threat to democracy, refers to intimidation, use of force and/or violence, incitement or support for ideological beliefs, religious and political matters that are prohibited by law.  Provision of financial support to an organisation deemed as violent or engaged in violent extremism whether through force, intimidation, incitement or hostility, is also termed as ‘violent extremism’ in the bill.  The bill expands the scope of what may be considered ‘violent extremism’. Among other things, protecting and harbouring a scheduled person, advocating for violent extremism, spreading information for that purpose, and providing financial support for it, would all be termed violent extremism.  Read More Bill on personal data privacy gets cabinet nod It further empowers the government to add such organisations and individuals to List One and Two. The former is meant for organisations while the latter is for individuals. Moreover, the government may ban access to local and foreign media for organisations and individuals it deems as engaged in violent extremism besides restricting their movement, investigating their assets and monitoring their activities.  The government would also be empowered to seize properties, bank accounts, restrict the provision of loans, and confiscate passports of thus labelled organisations and individuals besides having access to investigate the properties and assets of associated family members of such persons. Such organisations and individuals would also be barred from participating in elections. Before the Senate session convened, lawmakers took to Twitter to question the implications of the bill. JI Senator Mushtaq Ahmad termed the bill as “frightening” and expressed concerns that the PDM government appeared reluctant to pass the bill to a committee and to hold a debate on it. “This is a frightening bill which will not end violent extremism but will increase it,” he tweeted.  “Sections five and six of the bill are draconian. This is a bill to ban the PTI. Attempting to eliminate a political leader or a political party through state coercion is wrong,” he said. آج Prevention of violent extremism act 2023،انسداد پرتشدد انتہاپسندی کابل سینیٹ @SenatePakistan میں پی ڈی ایم حکومت پیش کر رہی ہے۔ حکومت کے تیور بتا رہے ہیں کہ اس کو کمیٹی بھیجنے، اس پر بحث کرنے کی اجازت نہیں دیں گے اور اسی وقت اس کو پاس کر لیں گے۔ یہ ایک بہت ہی خوفناک بل ہے جس… pic.twitter.com/qSkIEbsC4A — Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan | سینیٹر مشتاق احمد خان (@SenatorMushtaq) July 30, 2023 The senator expressed concerns that this bill appeared to be in bad faith and cast doubts on whether all political parties and leadership would get a level playing field in the upcoming general elections. Ahmad was of the view that the government should refer the bill to the relevant committee and not reduce parliament to a “rubber stamp”. Similarly, PTI Senator Sania Nishtar also raised strong objections to the bill. “Wide discretion and sweeping indemnity for the government. No independence of review process. Curbs on individual freedoms. Offences are non-bailable, cognizable and non-compoundable,” she noted. Prevention of violent extremism bill @SenatePakistan: Wide discretion & sweeping indemnity for the government. No independence of review process Curbs on individual freedoms Offences are non bailable, cognizable & non compoundable What are the implications for human… pic.twitter.com/nCzJBnYnu9 — Senator Dr Sania Nishtar (@SaniaNishtar) July 30, 2023 “What are the implications for human rights, right to fair trial, freedom of expression and chaddar aur char diwari values?” she asked.