The ‘Prevention of Violent Extremism’ bill had to be dropped from the agenda in the Senate on Sunday, amid strong resistance by the opposition.

The bill was to be presented by Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah but Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani said it would not be tabled.

Jamat-e-Islami’s Senator Mushtaq said that the government’s behaviour was indicating that they would try to rush the bill through the Senate without referring it to the committee.

Mushtaq added that the bill was essentially an attempt to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. He added that trying to ‘minus’ any political party would be wrong and that sections 5 and 6 of the bill were draconian in nature.

The government recently hurried amendments to the Army Act through the Senate without referring them to a standing committee leading to protests by multiple senators including those belonging to the Pakistan Peoples Party.

The proposed bill

Sources said that the bill says that violent extremism is defined as using violent means for any objective. However, the bill says that any person or organisation inciting or aiding violent extremism will also be considered to be involved in the definition.

The bill proposes creating two lists for people involved in violent extremism. The first list includes organisations directly involved in violence or ‘whose leader is pro-violence’.

The second list includes organisations or people who aid the violence including using financial means.

Any person nominated on one of the two lists can be detained for 90 days under the bill. The detention can be extended up to 12 months.

Being involved in any activity prohibited in the bill will be a non-bailable offence. However, the person can appeal against the arrest in the high court.

Any organisation included in the list will not be allowed to contest elections and will be dissolved, the bill proposes.

The ‘violent person or organisations’ will not be allowed to appear in media under the bill. Their content will also be blocked on social media.

The bill also proposes that the government should have the power to restrict or monitor movements, cancel passports and arms licenses and freeze assets and bank accounts of people named in the lists. They will also not be allowed to draw loans from any bank.

Organisations included in the list can be fined up to Rs2 million. Any person giving shelter to the nominated people will also be culpable.

The bill also contains provisions to protect people who provide information about any suspects.

Sanjrani later remarked that the bill had been “dropped” but would be taken up on the next working day. The session was adjourned for 3pm on Wednesday (August 2).