ISLAMABAD – The government would table “The Defence Housing Authority Islamabad Bill, 2007” in the National Assembly during the ongoing session despite serious reservations of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). A source in the Parliament House said on Tuesday that the bill had been included in the list of 22 government bills ready for passage.
The bill was introduced in the National Assembly in November 2009. Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Nisar Ali Khan had on Monday cautioned the government to refrain from bringing the bill in the National Assembly. He was of the view that the proposed legislation would give sweeping powers to DHA.
Nisar had warned that if the bill was tabled in the NA, he would bring forward those people whose lands were forcibly occupied. He said his party had no objection to providing land for martyrs and soldiers who defended the country, but it would not allow the forcible take over of land in the name of DHA.
The source said Nisar and Law Minister Babar Awan would hold a meeting soon after the latter returned from Saudi Arabia, to resolve the issue. “A meeting is due between the two leaders as they have already reached an understanding on the issue of the DHA bill,” the source added.
