Nafisa Shah Most Active Female Parliamentarian

Daily Thursday March 6, 2014 Vol: FN-002/14, Issue NO. 44

FROM FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS TO AN OPEN AND EFFECTIVE PARLIAMENT t The National Assembly Standing Committee on Education, The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis & Human Training & Standards in Higher Education and Public Resource is meeting today (Thursday) at Parliament House, Accounts Committee are meeting today at Parliament Islamabad. House, Islamabad.

Profile ASSEMBLIES IN SESSION Asad Umar Nafisa Shah most active Member National Assembly Total Time Met Maximum Members Present National Assembly 4 Hours 10 Minute 127 female parliamentarian Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly 3 Hours 20 Minutes 60 Irfana Yasser Minority MPs join hands to ISLAMABAD: Twelve female lawmakers who had been elected on women reserved seats of the Lower House of Parliament remained silent and did not show any interest in the proceedings of resolve community issues National Assembly till the completion of 8th session of the incum- Salahudin Safdar & Abdul Aleem PTI, MQM and JUI-F. The Hindu Marriage Act bent National Assembly. Of these, 10 belong to the ruling party ISLAMABAD: The minority Four legislators belonging 2014 aims at documenting PML-N while one each comes from PML-F and PPPP. legislators belonging to four to MQM, including a minori- the marriages of persons be- Asad Umar forayed into The 10 female legislators out of the total 35 couldn’t con- major political parties have ty MNA, introduced the Con- longing to Hindu religion. active politics for the tribute anything to the proceedings. They did not ask a single stood united in bringing leg- stitutional Amendment Bill, The Hindu males and females first time by winning the question, neither introduced any resolution nor took up any islation related to their com- 2014 seeking to increase the above the age of 18 with their by-election in NA-48 held Calling Attention Notice (CAN) to draw the attention of House. munity. The lawmakers on number of seats reserved for free consent can marry each on August 22, 2013 from They remained far away from the legislative business and did not reserved seats belonging to minorities in National and other under the proposed law the platform of Pakistan participate in any kind of debate. These legislators are Asyia Naz PML-N, PPPP, PTI and MQM Provincial Assemblies. The if they already do not have a Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The Tanoli, Rida Khan, Leila Khan, Iffat Liaqat, Shazia Ashfaq Mattu, have brought four bills so far same bill was also brought to spouse living with them. The seat was vacated by PTI Dr Asma Mamdot, Amra Khan, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Shakila in the National Assembly. the House by six other law- bill declares such Hindu mar- leader Javed Hashmi. He Luqman and Begum Majeeda Wyne. Three of the bills were makers, including Ramesh riages void where the above was elected Central Senior Reeta Ishwar of PML-F and Surryia Jatoi of PPPP also re- jointly sponsored by mem- Lal of PPPP, Lal Chand Mal- conditions are not fulfilled Vice President of PTI in mained insulated to the proceedings of the National Assembly bers from treasury as well as hi of PTI, Sanjay Perwani of or any of the spouses is im- 2012. Prior to joining pol- and did not contribute to any kind of legislation or Question Hour. opposition benches. However, MQM, Bha- potent. itics, Asad Umar was a cor- And those who spoke have had very little impact. Two female all of the bills regarding mi- Moreover, a male can mar- porate leader and worked lawmakers belonging to PML-N Marvi Memon and Ayesha Raza proceedings and asked 69 questions. She drew the attention nority issues were introduced ry another female in presence as Chief Executive Officer Farooq also showed the least interest in the House business and of House through four Calling Attention Notices on different as private members’ bills de- of first wife if she is medical- of Engro Pakistan (Pvt) asked only one question each. On the other hand, State Minister issues. Three CANs were taken up while one remained unad- spite the clear majority of ly declared to be unable Limited. for Information and Technology Anusha Rahman Khan intro- dressed. She introduced four resolutions out of which two were ruling PML-N in the Low- to conceive child. The duced only one resolution. adopted. She also laid three motions under rule 259. er House. spouses can divorce each Parliamentary Female members of PML-N Maiza Hameed, Arifa Khalid Per- Kishwar Zahra of PPPP also remained active in the legislative During the seventh other or file a petition for vaiz, Alizeh Iqbal Haider and Phyllis Azeem drew the attention of Information business and introduced four bills, out of these two were taken up sitting of the ongoing judicial separation if one House by raising one Calling Attention Notice each. and sent to the relevant standing committees. ninth session, Ramesh Lal wan Das, Dr Darshan and Is- converts to another reli- However, it was not all legislative laziness on the part of fe- Absolute In contrast to the few active lawmakers there were such law- of PPPP and Dr Darshan of phanyar Bhandara of PML-N. gion, treats the other cruelly, male legislators. Ms Nafisa Shah of PPPP was the most active makers like Nighat Parveen and Surriya Asghar of PPPP and leg- PML-N introduced the Hin- Another minority legislator deserts him/her for more than Majority member in the proceedings of Lower House and introduced two islators belonging to PTI Dr Shireen Mehrunnisa Mazari, Tahira du Marriage Registration Act, Ramesh Kumar of PML-N also two years, or has unsound More than half the votes bills, asked 78 questions from different ministries, laid 10 Call- Ashraf, Sanam Sultana and Dr Nikhat of MQM who introduced 2014 which is a longstanding introduced a constitutional mind. The marriage would ing Attention Notices; out of these 8 CANs were taken up while of the total membership of single bill each on the floor of House. issue of the Hindu commu- amendment bill in the seventh be registered with a marriage 2 remained unaddressed. The two bills named “The HIV/AIDS National Assembly i.e. more In asking questions from different ministries the most active nity as their marriages were session. It not only seeks in- registrar appointed especially (Safety and Control) Bill, 2013” and “The Political Parties Order than 171 votes and for Sen- member was Belum Hasnain belonging to PPPP who asked 117 not registered under present creasing seats for minorities for this purpose. The mar- (Amendment) Bill, 2013” were introduced and sent to the rele- ate, more than 52 votes questions to different ministries during the reporting period. Na- marriage laws. but also calls for direct elec- riage register would be open vant standing committees while she also introduced four resolu- feesa Inaytullah Khan Khattak of PTI remained second female There are ten minori- tion of minority MPs, to give for public inspection and the Unicameral tions which were adopted by the House. In addition Nafisa Shah who asked 97 questions. ty members in the National right of dual vote to minorities marrying couple would be is- A Legislature that consists also introduced two motions under rule 259 which, however, were However, Dr Shireen Mehrunnisa Mazari and Nafeesa Inayat- Assembly, six belonging to and to delimit contituencies sued copies of the marriage of one House; all the provin- not taken up. ullah Khan Khattak of PTI drew the attention of the Chair to- PML-N and one each to PPPP, for minorities on on the basis certificate namely “Shaadi cial assemblies in Pakistan Munaza Hassan of PTI participated in most of the House wards lack of quorum during two sessions. of existing divisions. Paraat”. are unicameral, for example Punjab Assembly Bicameral Bill seeks separation A Legislature comprising two NA suspends business to debate Houses, i.e. Senate and Na- tional Assembly; Parliament of PIMS from university of Pakistan is bi-cameral National Security Policy Calling Our Correspondent Usman Asad Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) proposed to ANP lawmaker Haji Ghulam Attention undertake three major steps based on Ahmed Bilour said Tehreek-e-Tali- ISLAMABAD: PML-N law- ISLAMABAD: The National Assem- disengaging, isolating and extermi- ban Pakistan (TTP) had given a bad Notice maker Tariq Iqbal has intro- bly on Wednesday suspended the A notice by which a special nating the extremists. She support- name to Islam, which was a religion duced a private member bill business of House to discuss the Na- question of public impor- ed the idea of disengaging from the of peace and there was no place for in the National Assembly tional Internal Security Policy while tance may be raised US-led war on terrorism and urged to terrorism in it. which seeks the separation the lawmakers demanded of the gov- abandon the terminology ‘war on ter- JUI-F lawmaker Muhammad Khan of the Pakistan Institute of ernment to incorporate their sugges- Adjournment rorism’ as the “US does not use this Shirani said that peace must be given Medical Sciences (PIMS) tions in it. Motion terminology any more”. a chance and terrorism must be root- from Shaheed Zulfikar Ali The Minister for Science and Tech- A motion to adjourn the busi- MQM’s Salman Baloch called for ed out from the country. Bhutto Medical University nology, Zahid Hamid, moved a motion ness of the assembly for the Islamabad. It also seeks the to suspend the routine agenda so that purpose of discussing a defi- status of civil servants for threadbare discussion could be held Eighth sitting sans leave application nite matter of recent and ur- the employees of PIMS. on the matter of national importance. gent public importance. The bill titled the Sha- Twelve legislators debated the motion Our Correspondent Chairperson heed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto new or a medical college is will make it an autonomous for three hours and 25 minutes. ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly received no leave application from any mem- In relation to a sitting, any Medical University Islam- upgraded to the status of corporate body that will Three PML-N members, includ- bers of the House during 8th sitting on Wednesday despite the fact that a maximum person who is presiding at abad (Amendment) Bill university but in the case of have serious consequences ing Major (Retd) Tahir Iqbal, Daniyal of 127 members were observed to be present at one point of the sitting. Normally, that sitting. 2014 was tabled during Shaheed Zulifkar Ali Bhu- for the general public. Aziz and Muhammad Moeen Watto during the proceedings, the Chair calls the names of those lawmakers who are on the second sitting of the tto Medical University, the According to the amend- debated the policy and recommend- leave but during the 8th sitting of the ongoing session no name was called. One Chair ongoing 9th session .The PIMS, a territory-level hos- ment bill, the PIMS and ed some measures for refinement. hundred and two members were present at the outset while 24 were there at the The presiding officer at a proposed bill seeks amend- pital was upgraded to give it Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhut- They appreciated various aspects of adjournment. A maximum of 127 members were observed to be present at one meeting of the house. ments in 13 sections (2, 3, the status of a medical uni- to Medical University would the policy and urged the government point of the sitting. Committee 12, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 24, versity which is an anoma- be treated two separate en- to improve policing system especially A parliamentary com- stern action against Taliban to save During the session, the House 25, 26, 34, 42) of the SZAB ly. He said this irregularity tities having no concern re- after tragic incident in Islamabad. mittee constituted under the country. He urged the govern- also unanimously passed the Law Medical University Act and has caused anger in the garding the use of their in- Legislators belonging to Ja- rules of procedure, com- ment to implement the National In- and Justice Commission of Pakistan insertion of section 11A. 3,000 workforce of PIMS frastructures and financial maat-e-Islami, Sahibzada Tariqullah prising various members ternal Security Policy strictly. (Amendment) Bill, 2013, paving the The mover stated the and they are apprehensive resources. SZAB Medical and Ms. Aisha appreciated the poli- of parliament. Mehmood Khan Achakzai of Pakh- way for Chief Justice of Islamabad clauses of the Act are con- of the hospital becoming a University was established cy but demanded more hard work by tunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) High Court to become ex-officio Leader of the flicting to the Higher Edu- university. under an act of the Par- intelligence agencies to counter ter- Chief said Pakistan must be put on member of the Commission. cation Commission Federal The said the hospi- liament last year. However, rorism. Opposition right track with collective wisdom and The Bill was moved by Minister for Universities Ordinance tal’s patient turnover is the PIMS employees were Yusuf Talpur and Abdul Sattar Leader of the Opposition demanded joint sitting of the Parlia- Science and Technology Zahid Ha- 2002 which is the guiding 1,321,645 per year and the concerned over their status Bachani of Pakistan People’s Party means a member who, in ment for thorough discussion on the mid in the Lower House of the Par- force behind the establish- government is spending and have been demanded (PPP) urged the government to take the opinion of the Speaker, issue. He lamented that the govern- liament. The Bill will become an Act ment of any new university. around five billion rupees the detachment of PIMS effective steps for achieving peace in is the leader of the majority ment was giving protocol to the abro- after the approval by the Senate and A medical university is usu- on this hospital, adding its from the SZAB Medical the country. of opposition members for a gator of the Constitution. President of Pakistan. ally established either as a upgradation to university University. Dr Shireen Mazari of Pakistan certain time period. Sindh Assembly passed 11 bills, adopted 18 resolutions Tariq Iqbal Procurement Bill, 2014 which enables the law enforcing various issues. Three joint resolutions were also tabled in MQM members staged three walkouts during the pro- agencies to ensure their security by procuring weapons and the House. ceedings consuming two hours and nine minutes, over ISLAMABAD: The Sindh Assembly passed 11 bills and ammunition in emergency situations for one year was also MQM members dominated the agenda by tabling six Karachi operation, arrest and torture of MQM worker and 18 resolutions, most of them were about the law & order, passed. The Sindh Service Tribunals (Amendment) Bill, out of seven adjournment motions which were taken up alleged victimization of its party workers by Sindh police. during its 11th session prorogued on last Friday. 2014, The Sindh Civil Servants (Regularization of Ad-hoc by the House whereas only a single motion was moved by Furthermore, two instances of protests by the similar par- Out of 11 treasury backed bills, four bills focused on Appointments) (Amendment) Bill, 2014 were also passed PML-F member. Law and order, incidents of honor kill- ty members were documented over alleged remarks by the real estate matters i.e. The Prevention of Defacement of during the session. ing, education and fiscal deficit of provincial government Provincial Minister against female member of the opposi- Property Bill, 2013, The Sindh Building Control (Amend- The Mandatory DNA Testing Bill, 2013 and The Sindh of Sindh were the main issues focused by the MPAs. The tion party and the other was against the Speaker for not ment) Bill, 2014, The Registration (Sindh Amendment) Consumer Protection Bill, 2013 were the only two private recent kidnappings in Khairpur district was also admitted allowing the MQM member to speak on privilege motion Bill, 2013 and The Sindh Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill, member bills introduced during the session. However a for discussion. raised by his fellow party member. 2013. The last two bills provide legal cover for the com- private member bill, The Registration (Sindh Amendment) Lawmakers sought the provincial government’s re- Additionally, 16 private motions were raised by the mem- puterization of revenue and land records. Two other bills, Bill, 2013 - appearing on the list of business was with- sponse on various issues by submitting calling attention bers – out of which only five were taken up by the House. The Sindh Health Care Commission Bill, 2013 and The drawn by the mover as a similar nature of a bill was already notices. As many as 35 calling attention notices were tabled Five privilege motions were also raised by the members National Institute of Blood Disease & Bone Marrow Trans- passed by the House. by the Sindh Assembly legislators and only 23 were taken while only a single was referred to the committee. plantation (NIBD) Post Graduate Institute of Life Sciences The Assembly unanimously adopted 18 resolutions out up by the House. MQM submitted majority of the notices Out of 81 starred questions on the agenda, the House Bill, 2014 were passed during the session. of thirty-five tabled, most of them addressing the law and (14). Whereas PML-F members submitted six calling at- took up 61, while the legislators asked 326 supplementa- The House also passed The Sindh Environmental Pro- order in the province. As many as seven resolutions spon- tention notices and PTI submitted three. These were relat- ry questions. Law makers spoke on 74 points of orders, tection Bill, 2014 and The Sindh Solid Waste Management sored by MQM members were adopted, followed by PPPP ed to the local Government, education, information, labour, consuming two hours and fifty four minutes of the pro- Board Bill, 2013. Additionally, The Sindh Emergency (Five), PML-F (Two) and each tabled by PTI member on planning & development and special education. ceedings.