PA forms rights commission, slams LHC verdict
By Habib Khan Ghori
KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Monday passed four bills into law, and through a resolution criticised the Lahore High Court verdict asking President Asif Ali Zardari to quit as party head and stop using the presidency for political purposes.
The assembly unanimously passed the Sindh Protection of Human Rights Bill, 2011, which provides a mechanism for the protection of human rights in the province.
This was one of the four bills passed into law by the house before the order to prorogue the session was read out by the chair at 2.18pm.
The three other legislations included Bill No 15, which provides for an efficient and transparent management of the provincial Consolidated Fund and Public Account, and proper accountability of all transactions.
This act, according to Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, was to be legislated by the provincial assembly under Article 119 of the 1973 Constitution, but like all other provincial assemblies the financial management was conducted by rules made by the governor.
The Sindh assembly would be the first such body to formulate the act and the laws had to be amended and updated, which would take a year, he said.
Before the law minister moved the motion to take up the bill clause by clause, Minister Syed Sardar Ahmad delivered a speech in support of the bill.
The other bill passed into law with a minor amendment, deleting the office of vice chairperson, was the Sindh Child Protection of Human Rights Bill, 2011, which provides for the establishment of an authority to be called the Sindh Child Protection Authority and to safeguard the rights of children in need of special protection measures.
Minister Tauqir Fatimah Bhutto, highlighting the objectives of the bill, said Pakistan had been a signatory to the UN charter for the last 20 years. This bill would protect children from violence, abuse, exploitation, sexual abuse, misuse for drug trafficking, etc.
Over two dozen speakers who got an opportunity to speak on the bill supported it, terming it an important piece of legislation.
Marvi Rashdi of the PML-F, endorsing the importance of the bill, moved some minor amendments, including providing protection against forced marriages under tribal customs. But it was opposed by the law minister, and when put to a vote, it was rejected by the house.
Bill No 13 of 2011 —— The Sindh Criminal Prosecution Service (constitution, functions and powers) (amendment) Bill, 2011 —— tabled by the law minister was also passed into law. This bill empowered the government to extend the term of prosecutor general in the Sindh Prosecution Service.
Earlier, the law minister introduced Government Bill No 09 of 2011 — The Sindh High Density Development Board (Amendment) Bill, 2011.
The adjournment motion of Marvi Rashdi regarding census 2011, which was earlier deferred to Monday, was withdrawn by the mover after the law minister said that the provincial government had already conveyed its reservations to the federal government over the issue.
On a request of the law minister, the house extended the deadline till the next session for the presentation of the report of the standing committee on law and parliamentary affairs and human rights on four government bills —— The Sindh ministers (salaries, allowances, and privileges (amendment) Bill, 2008; The Sindh special assistants (appointment, powers, functions, salaries, allowances and privileges (amendment) Bill 2008; The Sindh assembly members (salaries and allowances ) (Amendment) Bill, 2009 and the Sindh Assembly Speaker’s and deputy speaker’s (salaries, allowances and privileges) (Amendment) Bill, 2009.
The house also extended the date of the presentation of reports of seven standing committees to the next session as was pleaded by the law minister. Notices were given by Nawab Taimur Talpur, Syed Javed Hussain Shah, Ghulam Mujadid Isran, Imran Zafar Leghari, Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Humera Alwani and a resolution regarding a shortage of drinking water by Haji Munawwar Ali Abbasi.
The house was called to order at 10.25am with Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza in the chair. After the questions hour, which was regarding the local government, items on the agenda were taken up.
After the completion of the agenda, the chair gave the floor to Nadeem Bhutto to read out his resolution under Rule 201 of the rules of procedure of the provincial assembly.
Before the resolution was presented, members of the MQM, PML-F and PML-Q had left the house. Besides PPP legislators, ANP minister Amir Nawab and NPP Minister Abid Jatoi were present in the house.
The resolution reads:
“This Assembly resolves that the Constitution of Pakistan enshrines every individual’s right to elect his leader, that this right allows democracy to be established, and that exercising this right, the people of Pakistan elected President Asif Ali Zardari as the sovereign head of the nation; opines that the recent judgment by the Lahore High Court dates 12th May 2011, advising the President to relinquish the office of Co-Chairman Pakistan People’s Party amounts to depriving the people of Pakistan of this fundamental right and is evidence of the mindset aiming to depoliticise the Pakistani society, the same mindset that earlier facilitated the induction of dictators into the Presidential office on the pretext of the law of necessity; believes that politics is a noble calling and holding meetings in the Presidency with leaders of political parties and workers of his own party to glean collective wisdom and further the process of political reconciliation does not comprise its sanctity or dignity; and firmly reiterates that the essence of an egalitarian democracy is served buy the current political set-up which upholds the constitution of Pakistan and is a true representatives of the people of this country”.
Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza, who was presiding over the session, put the resolution to the house, which was passed by legislators by standing up in their benches.
Source: Dawn
Date:5/17/2011
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