Speaker receives report by commission on new provinces. PHOTO: FILE
Wednesday turned out to be a historic day for the 13th National Assembly (NA). Prior to kicking off the proceedings, the lower house of Parliament organised the first-ever photo session of its members, checking off one more milestone on its way to becoming the first assembly in the country’s history to complete its term.
Addressing the house later during the proceedings, NA Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza observed that while the photo session was historic, democracy in Pakistan was still in its “teething phase”.
Despite the day’s importance, however, the event was apparently not significant enough for several MNAs – of the 342 members of the lower house, only around 290 showed up for the photo session. Members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement were among those absent.
Report on new provinces
Once the proceedings started, the Speaker received the report of the parliamentary commission on the creation of new provinces in Punjab. According to sources, the report is likely to be presented before the lower house today (Thursday).
“The report covers all aspects and includes a proposed constitutional amendment bill for creating the new province in Punjab,” commission chairman Senator Farhatullah Babar said after submitting it. “The journey towards a new province in the Punjab may be long and tortuous, but the process is irreversible.”
A constitutional amendment bill to alter the existing boundaries of the provinces needs a two-third majority to be passed in the NA, Senate and Punjab Assembly.
SC Registrar’s refusal
The chairman of the government accounting watchdog, Nadeem Afzal Gondal, urged the house to at least hold a debate on the Supreme Court (SC) Registrar’s refusal to appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
“The house should debate the accountability of institutions,” Gondal maintained, while referring to the stay order which bars the registrar from appearing before the committee.
Last week, Gondal sought advice from the NA over the matter. “All efforts must be made to avoid confrontation between the institutions… the matter should be resolved through further debate in the Assembly,’ his report recommended.
Governor’s Rule in Balochistan
MNA Haji Rozud Din, once again, censured the government for imposing Governor Rule in Balochistan, before Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) MNAs staged a walkout from the proceedings.
“A debate on law and order in the country has been on the NA’s agenda for the last five months but there is no solution,” he maintained.
Responding to the walkout, Usman Khan said the government had no choice but to take the decision to impose Governor Rule. “The JUI-F is staging a walkout every single day because its ministers were minting money through corruption in Balochistan,” he hit back.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 31st, 2013.
COMMENTS (7)
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Be proud because for the first time in 65 years the present democratically elected government is about to complete its full term, the lot of you who have spent the majority of your lives ridiculing any and all elected officials will not be able to comprehend the importance of what has been achieved regardless of the political affiliation, it is the first and hardest step for establishing a democracy in a country plagued by the vicissitudes of its politics and I find the sacrifices made by our leaders past and present to achieve this are wasted on such undeserving Pakistanis
Another sacrifice done by our beloved and patriot leaders for the country and de mockeracy (sorry democracy). And still we utter bad comments for these lovely people. We should all buy a picture and put it in our living rooms!!!
@Acorn Guts and Hataf: A bit of both. So glad that we can vote and that this govt is finishing its term and that hopefully so will future govts. Not so happy about the fact that this govt. has behaved like there is no tomorrow and looted with both hands and let the country bleed. And yet they be elected again.
Its is not first its the second assembly in the country’s history to complete its term.
and karachi bleeds and they celebrate what??
Smile. Better things lay ahead of us. Smile bec now u can vote. And b3c ure choice wll be catered to in the next elections