Military-related bills: National interest strengthened by democratic forces: Shibli

The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday said that democratic forces strengthened the national interest by casting their votes in favor of the bills pertaining to tenures of services chiefs and chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee.

Talking to journalists outside the Parliament House, the visibly overjoyed Shibli Faraz, the Leader of the House in Senate along with Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and other PTI leaders, congratulated both the houses - National Assembly and Senate - on the passage of the bills.

"The democratic political forces strengthened the national interest as they voted on the important piece of legislation so both NA and Senate deserve congratulations," Awan said.

She said that passage of bills from the Senate is a stamp on complete national harmony in the country, and the Parliament will carry forward this process of national harmony, more such decisions will be taken in the best national interest.

She said that the legislation in hand is neither person-specific not for any particular institution, as this was done for the next generation and best interests of the nation.

She dispelled the impression that Supreme Court declared that extension given to Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa was wrong, but she did say that the legislation was done on the orders of Supreme Court, which had ordered to clear the ambiguity in tenure of army chief's appointment and extension.

"All the political parties are free to criticize on the government, but keeping in view the current political scenario, we all want harmony," she added.

Faraz said that the Parliament cleared the ambiguity in the tenures of services chiefs, adding all political parties except a few parties played their due role in doing the needful.

"We are hopeful that parliamentary parties will play their due role in legislation in future as solution of every problem lies in the Parliament," he added.

He rejected the reports that the bills were bulldozed, saying the legislation process was completed with the help of all political parties except a handful of people who did not want it to be done.

Senator Faisal Javed said that the opposition should play its role in legislation in future like it did in the instant case when all important bills pertaining to tenures of services chiefs were brought before the Parliament.

"This was a very important legislation and this is certainly a very good start for the government and we are optimistic to proceed with other legislation by taking the opposition onboard in future," he added.

He said that Zainab Alert Bill has been pending before the House for the last so many months, which should also be taken up as it is a very piece of legislation.