Kerry-Lugar Bill now in National Assembly

Lahore, Pakistan: Kerry-Lugar Bill now in National Assembly, A threadbare discussion on the Kerry-Lugar Bill will be held today (Wednesday) in the National Assembly as the House has accepted the adjournment motion moved by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on the issue.

The party had submitted the motion in the National Assembly Secretariat some days ago, and the Business Advisory Committee of the House also consented to discuss the Bill as desired by the opposition parties.

The PML-N is of the view that the Kerry-Lugar Bill would put the sovereignty and self respect of the country at stake, and is aimed at safeguarding the interests of the foreign powers.

Pakistan Muslim League MNA, Shakir Bashir Awan read out the motion which was accepted after the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan did not oppose it.

Speaker National Assembly, Dr Fehmida Mirza said the motion would be converted in accordance with the Rule 259, allowing the members from all the political parties to discuss the matter.

She said, a two-hour time would be allocated today for the discussion on the Bill, which the Chief Whip of the PML-N Sheikh Aftab said was insufficient, requesting the chair to increase the time up to two days.