Bill to end quota system rejected

ISLAMABAD:

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Law and Justice on Wednesday rejected the bill to abolish the quota system for educational institutions’ employees.

The body also deferred discussion on the amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance.

The bill to abolish the quota system was introduced by PTI MNA Nusrat Wahid. She contended that the quota system was implemented in the Constitution for 40 years.

“Quota system should now be abolished.  All examinations should be held on the basis of equality,” she added.

PPP’s Nafisa Shah said she opposed the bill as the State could make laws for minorities.

PML-N’s Saad Rafique suggested that the matter needed to be taken seriously.

“Another solution can be found by abolishing the quota system to bring other cities on a par with Karachi and Lahore,” he added.

PPP’s Qadir Khan Mandokhail noted that the quota system could only be abolished only when all citizens received equal rights under Article 25 of the Constitution.

“If the quota system is to be ended, then special seats should also be abolished. There should be open merit.”

Nusrat Wahid pointed out that students with low marks also bagged a place in educational institutions under the quota system.

PTI’s Riaz Fatyana, the chairman of the body, said if the quota system was extended for 20 years, the committee would vote for and against it.

PPP’s Naveed Qamar observed that a new bill should be brought in the committee.

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The representative for the law ministry told the committee that Law Secretary Naeem Akbar had been infected by the Covid-19.

Rafique quipped that had the law secretary been “sidelined” like former aide to PM on accountability Shahzad Akbar.

The chairman of the committee maintained that it was necessary for the amended National Accountability Bureau (NAB) law to be passed with consensus.

“We will form two-sub-committees on the matter – one comprising the government members and the other opposition,” he added.

He asked the members from both sides to submit names for the bodies.

Rafique responded that they would submit the names after consulting the leadership of their respective parties.

“However,” he added, “talks can take place where there is space left to do so.”

He maintained that all the amendments to the NAB law had been tailored to suit the government.

“After the amended ordinance, the office of the NAB chairman has been made subservient to the government.”

The bill was later deferred till next month.