News
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Bill for creation of new provinces tabled in NA* MQM seeks new provinces in Punjab, KP
* Political Parties Order (Amendment) Bill 2012 seeks more representation for women
By Ijaz Kakakhel
ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Tuesday tabled the 20th Constitutional Amendment Bill 2012 in the National Assembly, seeking creation of new provinces in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi chaired the assembly session in which 12 bills were introduced.
MQM leader Wasim Akhtar tabled the 20th Constitutional Amendment Bill with support of his MQM members Sajid Ahmad, Khwaja Sohail Mansoor and Syed Asif Hasnain.
The statement of the bill says the “overgrowth of population almost in geometrical proportion, increased demand for delivery of social services and the inaccessibility of the Chief Executive, his cabinet members and the bureaucracy including the law enforcing agencies, are the factors that have rendered dispensation of justice to the people of the far-flung areas almost impossible. Besides administrative inconvenience, the cultural and social diversity within the ideological unity also necessitates greater harmony with psychological bias”.
While the bill specifically mentions Hazara province with six districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), it suggests that people in 21 districts of southern Punjab should decide through a referendum if they want one, large Saraiki province or more than one provinces.
The bill also suggests a referendum in Dera Ismail Khan and Tank districts to determine whether the people there want to remain within the present KP administration or join the proposed southern Punjab province.
The bill proposes creation of new provinces in Punjab and calls for Article 293(4) to be abrogated from the constitution. The government did not oppose the bill and submitted its draft to a standing committee for deliberation. Another bill – the Political Parties Order (Amendment) Bill 2012 – was introduced by women lawmakers Bushra Gohar, Nafisa Shah, Tasneem Siddiqui, Asiya Nasir and Dr Attiya Insyatullah. It seeks to protect and strengthen women representation in the political and legislative processes. The bill says that every political party shall make a selection of minimum of 10 percent women candidates for elective offices on general seats. It also says that every political party shall have a minimum of 33 percent quota for women in the party’s elected general council, in associated party committees and forums at federal, provincial and local levels.
MNA Nafisa Shah said that although women seats got recognition in the 18th Amendment, “they (women) should be seen among people”. “We want more strength of women parliamentarians,” she said.
The other bills introduced in the Lower House by different members were: The National Database and Registration Authority (Amendment) Bill 2012, The Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill 2012, The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2012, The Passport Amendment) Bill 2012, The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2012, The Reservation of Quota for Residents of Islamabad Capital Territory (Provincial Services) Bill 2012, The Civil Services (Qualification for Appointment as High Court Judges) (Repeal) Bill 2012 and The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2012.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk