ISLAMABAD: Standing Committee of National Assembly on Law and Justice on Tuesday decided to forward the matter of creation of new provinces to Speaker Asad Qaiser for formation of a parliamentary committee with the consent of political parties
Meeting was chaired by the member National Assembly Riaz Fatyana of the committee which discussed different bills sent by the members to the National Assembly.
The committee considered the Constitution (Amendment) bills of Murtaza Javed Abbasi and Ali Khan Jadoon for creation of new provinces with amendments in articles 1,51, 59, 106, 175A and 218.
Murtaza Javed Abbasi said according to the bill three new provinces of Bahawalpur, Hazara and South Punjab would be created.
He added that there was a consensus of political parties on the bill in the National Assembly, however the matter could be further debated to reach a consensus on different issues.
After discussing the subject, the chair suggested that the committee members should approach the leadership of their respective parties as the matter was political in nature, he also advised to ask the NA Speaker for formation of a parliamentary committee on this issue.
Murtaza Abbasi further said leaders of parties on different occasions inside and outside the parliament had supported the demand for new provinces.
He recalled that the assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had passed resolutions for the new provinces.
He along with Dr Nafeesa Shah said the committee chair should issue production orders of MNAs Rana Sanaullah and Khawaja Saad Rafique who were members of the committee.
The bill of Kishwar Zehra on bouncing of cheques was opposed by the members as it was tabled during tenure of the previous assembly.
Mehmood Bashir Virk said constitution was a sacred document and after a National Assembly ends its tenure the legislation under process should be scrapped and it should be left to new legislature to make laws.
Naveed Qamar also seconded his views and said the new National Assembly has the right to undertake legislation irrespective of what was done before.
The bill of Aliya Kamran on The Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils was also discussed by the committee.
She wanted that a seat for Balochistan should be increased in Pakistan Bar Council. The members of the committee approved the amendment for increase in the seats of Balochistan from seven to eight.
MNA Dr Ramesh Kumar briefed the committee about the Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) bill moved by him.
Dr Nafeesa Shah said the bill was important as it was related to human rights, rising population and health of women.
The chair deferred the matter till the next meeting of the committee to be held on Wednesday when the relevant ministers and members of Council of Islamic Ideology would attend.
The committee also discussed the bill of Dr Darshan for amendment in articles 51 and 106 of the constitution for increase in seats of minorities in the assemblies according to their population.
The chair referred the bill to the sub committee headed by MNA Hussain Tariq for further consideration. (APP)
