Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Tuesday passed The National Commission on the Status of Women (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

The bill was moved by MQM lawmaker Dr Nikhat Shakeel Khan to amend the National Commission on the Status of Women Act, 2012. She said the National Commission on the Status of Women was established to protect the rights of women. However, she observed that the commission remained without its chairperson for a long time. The bill would ensure the election of new chairperson within 30 days after the retirement of the incumbent head, she added.

She said the existing law would give a clear timeframe to the government to appoint a chairperson and make the commission more effective. The chairperson of the said commission had central place to make sure result-oriented performance of the commission.

Meanwhile, the House passed with certain amendments a private member bill ‘The Compulsory Blood Test of the Relatives of Thalassemia Patient Bill, 2017’ making it compulsory for couples to get test before entering into a wedlock.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lawmaker Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho piloted the bill, The Compulsory Blood Test of the Relatives of Thalassaemia Patient Bill, 2017′. The bill aimed at talking concrete steps for controlling the hazardous disease and making a law for testing of blood relatives of those persons who have thalassaemia.

Thalassaemia is a hereditary genetic disorder which causes impaired production of hemoglobin. It was a dangerous disease which killed large number of children in Pakistan every year. All clinics, hospitals and centers handling and treating the patients should ensure that blood relatives of children having thalassaemia were all screened for the disease. This test was to be made compulsory for siblings, first cousins and uncles and aunts who were blood relatives. It was particularly compulsory for those blood relatives of thalassaemia patients who were getting married to get a pre-marital blood screening to ensure that they were not carrying the trait. Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry welcomed the bill and urged the provincial governments to follow the bill. He said a lot of deliberations were made on it with stakeholder. He assured the House that test results would be kept secret.

On a point of order, FATA lawmaker Shahjee Gul Afridi protested on the removal of FATA reforms from cabinet agenda for Tuesday’s meeting. He termed it unjust and said it gave a negative message to the people of FATA.

Aftab Sherpao, on a point of order, spoke on FATA reforms as well and said initially the prime minister was enthusiastic about it but now he seemed a bit hesitant. Mehmood Khan Achakzai said the FATA reforms should be done with the consent of the people of the area.

FATA legislator Shahabuddin wrapped his mouth with a black scarf and wore a black armband.

Lawmaker Babar Nawaz pointed out the violation of sanctity of Shewani and Jinnah cap as he believed it was being worn by low cadre employees at luxury hotels. He said even staff of the Lower House wore Sherwani and Jinnah cape. He asked for eradicating this matter and giving respect to these attires. However, lawmakers from the opposition benches were of the view that anyone can wear Sherwani and Jinnah cap if the person desires so.

PML-N and MQM lawmakers introduced the Compulsory Sewage Water Management and Reprocessing Bill, 2017 and the Federal Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2017 respectively. Both bills were referred to relevant standing committees.

JI lawmakers could not introduce the Trade Organizations (Amendment) Bill, 2017 on the assurance of government to bring a similar legislation. The House deferred the Political Parties Order (Amendment) Bill, 2013 till next session.

The House also adopted two private members’ resolutions, urging the government to improve the performance PTV and simplify the procedure of payment of pension.

Four Private Members’ resolutions and an amendment to Rules of Procedure were not taken up.

PPP and JI lawmakers staged a walkout against the absence of ministers. When Finance Minister Ishaq Dar was given floor a PTI lawmaker pointed out quorum following which the session was prorogued for an indefinite period.

The House was informed that the census was being conducted as per the international best practices and persons with disabilities would also be counted in the upcoming census.

To a call attention notice moved by Shaista Pervaiz and others regarding non-inclusion of a column for persons with disabilities in the national census form, Parliamentary Secretary for Finance Rana Afzal Khan told the House that the census was being conducted as per the international best practices. He said it would be a long exercise which would begin next month. He pointed out that two forms that were Form-2 and Form-2(A) had been prepared. He said Form-2 would be used in main census exercise while information about disabilities will be collected in Form-2(A) in the second phase by sampling.