For once, key legislation dominates PA session
To safeguard the women of the province, the house passed the Punjab Women Protection Authority Bill 2017.
Punjab Assembly. PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE:
The Punjab Assembly finally got back to the business of legislation in Tuesday’s session as the treasury benches got three major bills passed, albeit by rejecting amendments suggested by the opposition.
To ensure proper legislation to safeguard the women of the province, the house passed the Punjab Women Protection Authority Bill 2017. The other bills passed by the assembly included the Punjab Shehr-e-Khamoshan Authority Bill 2017 and Punjab Boilers and Pressure Vessels (Amendment) Bill 2017.
However, it was not all smooth sailing as the opposition benches continued protesting, venting frustration over bills which they believed were passed in haste.
One of the opposition legislators, Muhammad Arif Abbasi, walked out of the house in protest against the treasury rejecting his and his colleagues’ amendments. He believed the changes would make the legislation more effective.
Historic initiative: Punjab Assembly forms panel on minority affairs
Maintaining what has now almost become tradition, house proceedings started an hour later than the scheduled time of 10am.
Most questions lapsed and were disposed of as the legislators who had put their queries forward were not present in the house.
Muhammad Arif Abbasi of the opposition said it had become tradition that the treasury MPAs imposed their “authority” rather than making sincere efforts to improve the existing system. He said these newly-introduced authorities had come into being to support vested interests. Abbasi said it also showed the failure of the current departments working on the subjects.
Sadia Sohail Rana, Dr Nousheed Hamid, Raheela Anwar, Dr Waseem Akhtar and Asif Mehmood were among those who opposed the conduct of the treasury benches. They reiterated that the bills were passed in haste and without removing loopholes, which according to them were visible.
On Wednesday, Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan directed all parliamentary secretaries to reply to pending questions of legislators by Monday otherwise strict action would be taken against them.
This order was passed issued by the speaker when opposition legislator Raheela Anwar put her question forward, but no parliamentary or department secretaries were present in the house.
Punjab Assembly session: Bickering continues over Panamagate verdict
She asked who would reply to her question and the speaker told her to wait for a few minutes as the parliamentary would soon reach the assembly hall. After another 10 minutes, the MPA stood again and asked the speaker. Iqbal’s frustrations grew and he issued a stern warning to the secretaries.
Minority legislator Shunila Ruth from the opposition also suggested some amendments to the Punjab Shehr-e-Khamoshan Authority Bill 2017, claiming burial or last rites were the biggest challenges for minorities.
She suggested a minority be included in whatever authority is being formed by the government. Minister for Human Rights and Minority Affairs Khalik Tahir Sindhu welcomed the suggestion.
Meanwhile, seven ordinances were extended for 90 days. Punjab Assembly also passed a resolution related to the deployment of Special Security Division (SSD) troops for China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects across Punjab, under Article 147, read with Article 245, of the Constitution.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2017.
The Punjab Assembly finally got back to the business of legislation in Tuesday’s session as the treasury benches got three major bills passed, albeit by rejecting amendments suggested by the opposition.
To ensure proper legislation to safeguard the women of the province, the house passed the Punjab Women Protection Authority Bill 2017. The other bills passed by the assembly included the Punjab Shehr-e-Khamoshan Authority Bill 2017 and Punjab Boilers and Pressure Vessels (Amendment) Bill 2017.
However, it was not all smooth sailing as the opposition benches continued protesting, venting frustration over bills which they believed were passed in haste.
One of the opposition legislators, Muhammad Arif Abbasi, walked out of the house in protest against the treasury rejecting his and his colleagues’ amendments. He believed the changes would make the legislation more effective.
Historic initiative: Punjab Assembly forms panel on minority affairs
Maintaining what has now almost become tradition, house proceedings started an hour later than the scheduled time of 10am.
Most questions lapsed and were disposed of as the legislators who had put their queries forward were not present in the house.
Muhammad Arif Abbasi of the opposition said it had become tradition that the treasury MPAs imposed their “authority” rather than making sincere efforts to improve the existing system. He said these newly-introduced authorities had come into being to support vested interests. Abbasi said it also showed the failure of the current departments working on the subjects.
Sadia Sohail Rana, Dr Nousheed Hamid, Raheela Anwar, Dr Waseem Akhtar and Asif Mehmood were among those who opposed the conduct of the treasury benches. They reiterated that the bills were passed in haste and without removing loopholes, which according to them were visible.
On Wednesday, Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan directed all parliamentary secretaries to reply to pending questions of legislators by Monday otherwise strict action would be taken against them.
This order was passed issued by the speaker when opposition legislator Raheela Anwar put her question forward, but no parliamentary or department secretaries were present in the house.
Punjab Assembly session: Bickering continues over Panamagate verdict
She asked who would reply to her question and the speaker told her to wait for a few minutes as the parliamentary would soon reach the assembly hall. After another 10 minutes, the MPA stood again and asked the speaker. Iqbal’s frustrations grew and he issued a stern warning to the secretaries.
Minority legislator Shunila Ruth from the opposition also suggested some amendments to the Punjab Shehr-e-Khamoshan Authority Bill 2017, claiming burial or last rites were the biggest challenges for minorities.
She suggested a minority be included in whatever authority is being formed by the government. Minister for Human Rights and Minority Affairs Khalik Tahir Sindhu welcomed the suggestion.
Meanwhile, seven ordinances were extended for 90 days. Punjab Assembly also passed a resolution related to the deployment of Special Security Division (SSD) troops for China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects across Punjab, under Article 147, read with Article 245, of the Constitution.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2017.