Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution unanimously, strongly denouncing the circulation of blasphemous content on social media.

The resolution said blasphemous material was hurting the sentiments of Muslims and urged the government to take necessary measures to block and prevent circulation of objectionable material on social media. The House adopted a motion authorising the National Assembly speaker to form a 10-member special committee to suggest measures for blocking sacrilegious and blasphemous content on the digital space and taking action against those responsible for it. The resolution was jointly moved by Capt (r) Safdar and Naeema Kishwar Khan.

Earlier today Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to take all possible measures to block blasphemous content on social media.

Terming ‘blasphemous’ content on social media a “nefarious attempt to play with the emotions of the Muslim Ummah”, he called for the authorities to track down those circulating blasphemous content on social media and hand out strict punishment in accordance with the law. Nawaz cautioned that those found to be utilising the blasphemy laws for their personal gains must be held strictly accountable as well.

Safdar, Naeema, Shabizada Tariqullah and Sheikh Salahuddin spoke over the circulation of blasphemous content on social media. Besides condemning the issue they also demanded that the government take strict action against those involved in the practice.

Deputy Speaker Murtaza Abbasi chaired the session. Moved by PML-N lawmaker, the House passed the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (Amendment) Bill, 2017 as received from the Senate.

The bill was moved by Amra Khan provided to further amend the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Act, 1975.

Speaking on the bill, Amra Khan said after this legislation more educational institutions across the country would be able to affiliate themselves with the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education.

The House passed a resolution moved by Shakila Luqman urging the government to take immediate steps to establish a Women University in each district of the country.

Speaking on the resolution, Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Muhammad Balighur Rehman told the House that the Higher Education Commission was implementing a comprehensive plan to set up university or a campus in each district of the country. He said at present there were 14 women universities in public sector and more were being established. He said in Balochistan campuses of Sardar Bahadur Khan University were being set up in Khuzdar, Pishin and Naushki districts and allocations for this purpose had been made in the PSDP.

He said the percentage of ‘out of school children’ had been decreased from 6.7 million in 2012-13 to five million in 2015-16. He said budgetary allocation for education had also been increased during the last three years and it is now closed to 2.5 percent of GDP.

Earlier, the members demanded that colleges and universities should be established in all parts of the country particularly in Balochistan and FATA to promote education and enhanced literacy rate. They also demanded for more allocation for education sector. They stressed for setting up of vocational institutes for technical education.

To a call attention notice moved by Shakila Luqman and others regarding non-existence of laboratories for quality control of food items in Islamabad, Parliamentary Secretary for Interior Afzal Dhandla told the House that facility for testing of food items was available at the National Institute of Health.

To another call attention notice moved by Sahibzada Yaqoob regarding poor performance of PESCO in District Lower Dir due to shortage of staff, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali informed the House that recruitment in the company was being made which would help improve its performance.

The House referred 12 bills received from the Senate to the relevant committees.