Opposition Blocks FC Bill Over Lack of Quorum in NA

ISLAMABAD: Opposition Members blocked passage of a bill seeking to transform the Frontier Constabulary (FC) into the Federal Constabulary today, following the expiration of an enabling presidential ordinance. The lack of quorum in the National Assembly coincided with the July 2018 promulgation that gave federal authorities leeway for such restructuring.

The Minister of State for Interior, Tallal Chaudhry, had previously moved the bill today despite receiving objections from the opposition. He explained to Dawn that a November extension had since expired, leaving the legislation in limbo.

Chaudhry was optimistic about bringing the bill back through both Houses before Eid, acknowledging that this would likely require early sessions post-festival.

In its initial stages, Chaudhry moved the bill via supplementary agenda amidst an opposition protest. The legislative process halted prematurely when voting on the bill’s clauses resumed. Several amendments proposed by PPP’s Syed Naveed Qamar were approved during this mid-voting halt. One of these included mandating the FC’s deployment be requested by government concerned, addressing the issue at hand.

Despite the disruption, protesters continued their demands, tearing up agendas and disrupting proceedings until Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah took the floor. He ignored calls for a quorum count from the opposition and declared the House not in order, necessitating a prorogation announcement read out by the chair.

The original FC was established to uphold law and order in frontier areas and protect security-sensitive regions like remote territories. However, changing national security landscapes, increased emergencies, natural disasters, civil unrest, and emerging threats required a more flexible, versatile force capable of addressing these challenges effectively.

Critics saw this bill as granting the federal government sweeping powers over the FC’s use across Pakistan for any reason, labeled it as a security-centric move.

The new legislation would see all powers and assets of the current FC transferred to the Federal Constabulary. While Chaudhry expressed optimism about bringing the bill back in upcoming sessions, many questioned its potential impact on federal-to-state power dynamics and regional autonomy.