Friends and foes join hands to humiliate govt in Senate over violent extremism bill

Draft law covers organisations, individuals as well as those extending any kind of assistance

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The government was humiliated in Senate on Sunday as Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani dropped a bill designed to tackle the issue of “violent extremism” from agenda after the senators from the both sides of the aisles vehemently opposed the move.

With the government unable to muster any support to push the bill through the House amid a strong and vocal opposition, Sanjrani said he was dropping the bill from agenda even if the government didn’t want to do so as everyone had voiced concerns over it.

The remarks came as Sen Abdul Ghafoor Haideri – a top leader of JUI-F which is key part of the ruling alliance – said his party opposed the bill. He added that everyone would fall prey to the draft legislation, with a warning that they could opt to stage a walkout if anyone tried to bulldoze the move.

Similarly, Sen Tahir Bizenjo of National Party regretted that the PML-N had not been taking the smaller allied parties into confidence in the legislation process and said the two larger parties [PML-N and PPP] were making all the decisions.

He described the bill as an attack on democracy – a concern expressed by all those raising their voice against the bill.

On the other hand, Sen Mushtaq Ahmed of JI warned that the bill, if passed, would hit every political party while PTI’s Sen Humayun Mohmand claimed that the draft had been designed solely against his party. Impose martial law if such laws were to be passed, he remarked and questioned why the elected members were even sitting in the parliament.

What’s in the bill?

The proposed legislation defined violent extremism as the practice of using force and violent means in the matters related to ideological beliefs as well as political and religious issues.

It also covers threatening or inciting people for sectarian purposes, backing sectarianism in way that is prohibited under law, extending financial assistance to any person involved in violent extremism and encouraging others towards violent extremism.

Most importantly, an organisation involved in violent extremism won’t be able to take part in elections and no financial institution can assist not only the said entity but also the its office holders and members in individual capacity.

According to the proposed legislation "Prevention Violent Extremism Bill 2023" tabled by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, protecting and sheltering any person included in Schedule IV also listed as a crime.

Moreover, promoting, backing and spreading information about violent extremism has also been included in the definition of militant extremism.

Other salient features of the proposed legislation say that the government can place any person or organisation on List 1 or List 2.

The List 1 covers such an organisation which itself or whose chief is involved in violence while the organisations reappearing after changing their names would also fall under this.

Meanwhile, the List 2 deals with individuals involved in violent extremism and those providing financial support for the purpose.

The government, meanwhile, can block the access of such organisations and individuals to media.

The bill empowers the government to monitor the activities of these organisations and their members while they won’t be allowed to travel abroad as their passports are to be confiscated as well. At the same time, the arms licences issued to them would be cancelled besides freezing their bank accounts.

Various measures suggested to curb the spread of violent extremism also include barring educational institutions from promoting violent extremism while all the state employees would ensure that neither he or she nor his or her family members are part of violent extremism in any way.

Similarly, the content promoting violent extremism would be either immediately removed from social media or blocked.

At the same time, the alleged crime would be prosecuted in a session court while being treated as non-bailable, cognizable and non-compoundable.

Meanwhile, a person convicted on the charges of violent extremism would face a jail term for three to 10 years with a fine of up to Rs2 million. However, a convict violating the law may be sentenced for one to five years and Rs1m fine.

However, any organisation found guilty of violent extremism would dissolved besides the confiscation of individual or group’s assets and Rs5m fine. But the maximum sentence for the organisation in case of violating the law would be Rs2m fine

Moreover, the government can detain an individual or the leaders and members of such organisations person included in the List 2 could be detained for 90 or 120 days.

The bill says the charges of being an accomplice, conspiring and inciting in relation to the crimes mentioned under the law would result in 10-year sentence and Rs2m fine. Same is the case with those sheltering the persons committing the crime.

However, the people providing information and extending help to the government to capture the accused or revealing their plans will enjoy complete protection.

It’s is developing story. Details to follow