National Assembly continues debate on Kerry-Lugar bill

Lahore, Pakistan: Still National Assembly continues debate on Kerry-Lugar bill:-National Assembly on Thursday resumed the debate on Kerry-Lugar bill, a multibillion dollar legislation by US Congress aimed at tripling aid to Pakistan.

Members from both sides of the house, treasury and opposition benches, participated in the debate that lasted for several hours. Speaker NA Dr Fehmida Mirza chaired the session.

The National Assembly began debating the bill yesterday on an adjourn motion presented in the house by a member of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz to discuss the issue after it came under severe criticism by media and civil society.

Pakistan Army on Wednesday also voiced ‘severe concerns on some clauses of the bill’ that according to it pose threats to national security.

On Thursday, members from ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) openly supported the legislation in the house terming it a success of the democratic government. However, many of the members of its junior ruling partners – including Awami National Party (ANP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) and members from FATA adopted a vogue tone on the bill.