Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a bill for regulating and termination of marriages among Hindu families.

The bill was tabled by Minister for Human Rights Kamran Michael.

The said bill is applied to irretrievable breakdown of marriages among Hindus. It is also applicable to all citizens of Pakistan, who are Hindu by religion in any of its forms. The bill envisages three-month imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 1,000 or both in case of any violation of the act.

Meanwhile, lawmakers on Monday condemned Indian brutalities and human rights violations in Indian-held Kashmir and urged the government to forward suggestions to resolve Kashmir issue according to UN resolutions.

They said the entire nation was united on Kashmir dispute and everyone wanted to resolve the issue according to UN resolutions and wishes of Kashmiri people.

However, PTI lawmaker Shireen Mazari said the government did not raise the Kashmir issue properly at international forums. She said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and adviser to foreign affairs were not ready to take the parliament into confidence over the Kashmir issue.

However, Talal Chaudry of the PML-N said there was no need to make point scoring over Kashmir cause. “There was no discussion about Kashmir issue in the United Nation General Assembly before 2013 and PM Nawaz Sharif raised the issue properly since he came to power in 2013,” he said. MNAs Ch Khadim Hussain and Sahibzada Tariqullah appreciated the prime minister for highlighting the Kashmir issue effectively at UN.

To sum up, the legislators said India could not suppress the voice of Kashmiris through aggression. They said the unrest in Kashmir valley was indigenous and spontaneous that was led by the youth.

They said that Indian forces were committing grave human rights violations in the held territory by using pellet gun against the innocent women and children. They called upon the world bodies and international community to take notice of genocide in Kashmir.

Besides, the National Assembly passed four other bills including The Islamabad High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2016, The Civil Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2016, The Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Bill, 2016
and The Companies (Appointment of Legal Advisers) (Amendment)
Bill, 2016.

Opposition Leader Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah criticized the government for imposing heavy taxes on electricity bills. He asked the government to reduce multiple taxes on electricity bills and give relief to common man. He said the government should provide relief and comfort to people instead of extorting money from them.

Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Khalida Mansoor and others, Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary told the House that there was sufficient stock of medicines at the Polyclinic Hospital in Islamabad.

He said the government had also approved three hospitals with a capacity of 600 beds to cater to the needs of the patients. He said dearth of medics was also being addressed on top priority.