Three media bills passed in haste by National Assembly

WEB DESK: In a brief session lasting barely 15 minutes, the National Assembly on Friday, February 6 swiftly passed three key media-related amendment bills before proceedings were cut short due to a lack of quorum.

The sitting, presided over by Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah, saw the legislation tabled by Federal Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh and approved amid protests from the opposition, which flagged the absence of the required number of members. Despite a headcount confirming the quorum shortfall, the bills were cleared before the House was adjourned until Monday at 5pm.

The approved legislation includes amendments to the PEMRA law, the Associated Press of Pakistan Corporation, and the Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) Act, addressing regulatory oversight, administrative reforms, and employment conditions in the media sector.

The opposition, led by JUI-F MNA Aliya Kamran, criticised the hurried passage. Separately, the government also introduced two new bills the Federal Government Real Estate Management Authority Bill, 2026, aimed at better management of federal land, and the Centres of Excellence Act 1974 (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposing mandatory 33 percent women’s representation on federal boards.

The developments follow a busy legislative period, with President Asif Ali Zardari recently giving assent to seven bills, including laws on domestic violence prevention and the Daanish Schools Authority.