A new debate has started over what happened in the Senate when the lawmakers voted on Anti-Money Laundering (Second Amendment) Bill and the Islamabad Capital Territory Waqf Properties Bill, both related to the FATF, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.
The issue takes a turn for the worse as the incumbent Senate chairman and his predecessor locked horns over the Tuesday’s proceedings of the house.
Former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani maintained that the anti-money laundering bill was not rejected rather it was the motion to move the bill which was rejected by the Senators. He further added that the bills are pending in the Senate now and cannot be tabled in the joint sitting of the parliament for approval.
However, his successor Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani insisted that the bills have been rejected by the Senate and can be moved in the joint session.
Senator Raza Rabbani said both the legislations were not formally presented in the Senate, so when the house did not approve the motion to introduce the bills how could they be rejected. Technically both the bills are pending in the Upper House, he added.
Sadiq Sanjrani said he allowed to table the bills in the Senate under rules. The bills had been rejected after voting in the house, he added. “The Senate chairman has the powers but when house passes some legislation it becomes final,” he maintained.
Raza Rabbani said when the motion to introduce the bill was disapproved how could the Senate chairman allow the tabling of the bills. “There is no legal standing of the voting on the bills once rejected by the house,” he added.
Irfan Malik reported this news for 24NewsHD TV channel.