The National Assembly (NA) achieved a unanimous decision on Tuesday as they passed the “Contempt of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) Bill, 2023.” which aims to establish stricter consequences, including up to six months of imprisonment and a fine of Rs1 million, for actions that undermine the sovereignty and integrity of the legislature in any form.
The bill was introduced in the lower house by Rana Qasim Noon, a dissident lawmaker from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, who also serves as the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges. The session was chaired by NA Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf.
Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training, Rana Tanveer Hussain, commended the bill, stating that it would enhance parliamentary oversight.
“Law on contempt of parliament was the need of the hour,” Tanveer said while adding that similar laws existed for other institutions but not for parliament.
Parliamentary Contempt Committee
According to the proposed legislation, a 24-member Parliamentary Contempt Committee will be formed to investigate cases of contempt of parliament. The committee will consist of an equal number of members from the opposition and the government, as per the proposal.
Under the bill’s provisions, the committee will have the authority to summon any state or government official for contempt of parliament. After investigation, the committee will submit a report to the NA speaker and Senate chairman, who will determine the appropriate punishment based on the recommendations.
Authority of the Bill
The bill empowers the house to charge individuals with contempt through a motion, which can then be referred to the Contempt Committee by the speaker or the Senate chairman. Once the committee concludes that contempt charges are warranted, the chairman of the committee may move a motion in the House.
The speaker will be responsible for establishing the Contempt Committee within thirty days of the commencement of the Act. The committee will consist of twenty-four members, with equal representation from each house.
The bill grants the House the authority, based on the committee’s recommendations, to impose punishments prescribed under the Act. Anyone found guilty of contempt of a House or Committee may face a simple imprisonment term of up to six months, a fine of up to 1 million rupees, or both.
The call for a contempt of parliament bill arose from the government’s frustration over the involvement of the Supreme Court and other state institutions in executive matters.