ISLAMABAD - Contrary to the way ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) got the Protection of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill 2014 passed from the National Assembly, the strategy would altogether be different when the same bill would land into Senate where PML-N does not enjoy the requisite numerical strength for smooth sailing.
Sources aware of the developments taking place on this front informed The Nation on Thursday that PML-N would likely to delay its tabling in Senate and by the time would try to garner the requisite support for bill passage, though the chances of which are extremely slim.
The Protection of Pakistan (Amendemnt) Bill 2014 was vehemently opposed by political parties sitting on both sides of aisle in the National Assembly but the overwhelming majority of ruling PML-N had made the job done in the face of stiff opposition.
Frustrated Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf has meanwhile moved the apex court against the bill terming it repugnant to the very spirit of the Constitution.
In altogether different scenario in Upper House, the PML-N strength is 16 and including the support of one each MP of National Party, Pakhtunkhawa Milli Awami Party and Pakistan Muslim League (Functional) the tally become 19. In case, all the 11 independent and FATA Senators join their club the total strength would not exceed the figure of 30 and even then some 22 more votes would be required to get the bill passed.
All the parties sitting on opposition benches are opposed to this piece of legislation. Even JUI-F, a junior coalition partner in the government which has some six votes in Upper House of the Parliament, opposed the bill and the party leadership has expressed its resolve not to get it through from Senate, terming it a draconian law aimed at crippling the fundamental rights of the people enshrined in the Constitution.
The parties opposing the Protection of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill 2014 included Pakistan People's Party, Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid), Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Jamiat-I-Ulema-I-Islam (Fazl Group), Awami National Party, Balochistan National Party (Awami) and some FATA Senators as per the claim of opposition parties in the Senate.
In the presence of such a strong opposition it would become extremely difficult for the government to get it passed from Senate, a political analyst commented quickly adding that the government would have to woo opposition parties by accommodating some of their genuine amendments in the bill.
Former Senator S.M. Zafar termed it a very useful bill at a time when the country is facing the terrorists onslaught in the length and breadth of the country.
He asked the opposition parties not to go for its outright rejection and push the government for incorporation of their valid amendments in the bill.
He said that in his view the proposed bill would serve as the saviour for the terrorism-hit country and would go a long way in serving the cause of the people of Pakistan by bringing normalcy to the country.
To a question, he said that one could oppose the way it was pushed through the Lower House of the Parliament but one could not deny the vitality of the proposed bill and hoped that the government would move forward prudently to get this bill passed from the Parliament.
Political and constitutional experts are of the view that in the light of the 18th Constitutional Amendment in case the proposed bill fails to get the affirmative nod from the Upper House, the same would stand void and could not be taken to joint sitting of the Parliament as such for its passage.