NGOs remain on PA’s agenda

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly (PA) continued to debate the role of non-governmental organistaions (NGOs) on Friday, with an additional demand that their audit reports be looked over by the government.

While the Minister for Women Development Kamran Michael was answering queries regarding the Social Welfare and Women Development Department, Alaud Din Sheikh – who had moved an adjournment motion regarding the role of NGOs on Thursday – asked as a supplementary question whether the government audits NGOs. Michael replied in the negative, saying that NGOs get their audits done by chartered accountants.

Sheikh, continuing his campaign for effective monitoring of NGOs, remarked that the government should ask for their audit reports. “A false audit certificate can be obtained for a payment of between Rs500 to Rs50,000. It can even be arranged over a phone call,” he added.

Michael said that his department collaborated with many NGOs and had no complaints against them. He added that the organisations – with which the department works – submit a certificate of their audit reports to the department, adding that legal action is taken against those who do not.

Sheikh insisted that the department de-notify those NGOs, which do not submit their audit reports.

Legislation:

The House also received and debated the Women University, Multan, Bill.

Rana Sanaullah Khan presented the bill.

The opposition suggested several amendments to the bill but the suggestions were opposed by the treasury benches. Sanaullah said that the opposition’s proposed amendments were “wrong,” whereas, the opposition maintained that it was “fighting for the rights of the people”.

The law minister, during a barrage of suggestions said, “I did not present the bill on Thursday since I wanted Mohsin Leghari [from the opposition] in the House. He should appreciate this and help with the passage of the bill, which is for the benefit of South Punjab.” Leghari, while thanking Sanaullah, said that their proposals should at least be considered.

During the debate, a PPP MPA Sajida Mir said that a committee should be formed, to work for the welfare of women. “The construction of roads is a good step but we should also work for the betterment of women economic conditions,” she added. Mir stood corrected by a PML-N member, Shameela Aslam, who told Mir that  such a committee already existed by the name of Social Welfare and Women Development committee.

Kamran Michael added that throughout the province, destitute women were provided vocational training in different fields to help them earn their livelihood.

In answer to a question put by Zobia Malik, Michael said that the Gender Reforms Action Programme is in the process of being implemented in 26 districts of the province and will eventually be expanded to other districts in time. He added that a committee comprising female MPAs for effective implementation of the programme will be constituted within the next three months.

Registering protests:

During Friday’s session, the opposition twice staged a token walkout; once after opposition members noted that the treasury benches used inappropriate language with them and for the second time when they were not allowed to debate a point of order.

A member of the opposition, Sher Ali, objected to Sanaullah’s choice of words. “The law minister called us companions of Yazid,” he said adding that they might have been the allies of a dictator but such remarks, on account of religious connotations, were in bad taste.

The law minister remained silent but Rafiq Ahmed, a PML-N MPA responded, “Yazid is a symbol for oppression and has nothing to do with religion.”

Samina Khawar Hayat registered her protest about Amir Sultan Cheema being barred from assembly proceedings. “He only pointed out the quorum. For that, he was slapped with a 15-day ban,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2010.