NA Rejects Bill on Compulsory Drug Test for Students

News Desk

Islamabad: The National Assembly (NA) on Wednesday rejected a motion for the introduction of a bill aimed at declaring drug tests of students compulsory because of already existing laws on it.

The bill was sponsored by PML-N lawmaker Shakila Luqman and was supported by lawmakers belonging to MMAP including Salahuddin and Akbar Chitrali.

However, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbassi said there is already a law regarding sample testing of students while HEC and ANF had a joint venture for creating awareness among students to avoid menace of drugs.

PML-N Bashir Ahmed said that there would be financial implications as well as psychological impacts on students and their parents after passage of this legislative proposal.

He suggested having massive drug tests of all, including parliamentarians and visitors of parliament in case this law is approved for students.

Later, Deputy Speaker Zahid Durrani put the motion seeking leave for the introduction of the bill in the House. A total of six lawmakers voted in favor of the motion while 50 members opposed it and the motion for introduction of the bill was rejected with majority vote.