Parliamentary panel: Discussion pending on NCSW amendment bill

Ex-chairperson says commission submitted reports for the last two years

ISLAMABAD: Discussion on an amendment bill seeking to enhance the role of parliament and make the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) more effective is still pending before a lower house committee, while a former head of the commission contested a claim that reports were not produced.

The amendment -- moved by MQM parliamentarian Saman Sultana Jafri -- calls upon the government to present an annual report so that lawmakers can debate the recommendations of the commission.

The discussion on the amendment bill which was on the agenda of last week’s meeting of the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Human Rights, was deferred because of the mover's absence in the meeting.

Meanwhile, NCSW's former chairperson Khawar Mumtaz told The Express Tribune on Sunday that the commission had produced, printed and submitted reports for the last two years to the quarters concerned. She also said that the reports were also available in the commission’s office, as well as on its website.

Mumtaz completed her two-year term at the commission on December 31 last year. “The report for 2015 is being prepared by the commission, but I’m no longer there to supervise it. The reports for the last two years were brought out and given to all the members of the secretariat. There is no basis for suggesting that the reports were not produced,” she said.

Health Minister Saira Afzal Tarar is currently the acting chairperson of the commission.

The NCSW was formed through an act of parliament and the parliamentary committee that comprises members from both houses has to confirm its chairperson. However, the parliamentary committee, after confirming the chairperson of the commission, becomes redundant.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th,  2016.