Increased representation: Minorities amendment to be tabled in NA

Another amendment seeking budgetary proposals for development expenditure likely to be delayed.

ISLAMABAD:

After getting the green signal from the federal cabinet, the government is going to table the 23rd constitutional amendment in the National Assembly today (Monday) – the amendment if adopted will enhance the representation of minorities in both the national and provincial assemblies.

Last Wednesday, the cabinet approved an increase in the number of reserved seats for minorities in the lower house from 10 to 14. Sources confirmed that the amendment is on the agenda for today’s session.

The bill also proposes that minority seats in the Punjab Assembly be increased from eight to 10, three to four in the Khyber-Pakthunkhwa Assembly (K-P) Assembly, nine to 12 in the Sindh Assembly and three to four in the Balochistan Assembly.

Four minority members were already elected to the Senate this year, after seats were reserved for minorities in the upper house in March.

Development expenditure

Another amendment seeking submission of budgetary proposals for grants, appropriations and development expenditure for the next fiscal year, however, is likely to be delayed.



Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Anusha Rehman, who had moved the amendment, refused to table it last Tuesday, saying, “This is not the amendment which I had proposed, therefore, it should be sent back to the relevant standing committee to bring it back in its original shape.”

There was resistance from the treasury benches, and advice from the speaker: “If (the matter) is sent to the committee, it will, perhaps, never come back.”

However, the house decided to send the matter to the standing committee on rules and privileges and to take it up again on December 18.

“The committee meeting has not been convened yet,” Rehman told The Express Tribune and added, “The amendment is unlikely to be taken up next Tuesday.”

The amendment in rule 201 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007 reads: “(6) (c) the National Assembly shall finalize the recommendations in a pre-budget session not later than 5th March and such recommendations may be incorporated by the concerned Ministry in its budgetary proposals for next fiscal year.”

This amendment, Rehman said, has given authority to the concerned ministry to either incorporate or exclude the NA’s proposals, but, she added, “I had not proposed that.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2012.