ISLAMABAD – The National Assembly on Tuesday referred a bill pertaining to amend the Constitution to a committee while another bill was withdrawn and four reports of the National Assembly standing committees were submitted to the House.
The Bill to further amend the Civil Servants Act 1973, titled as the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill 2008, was moved by MNAs Dr Donya Aziz, Khurram Dastgair Khan, Ghulam Hyder Samejo and others. Moving the Bill, Khurram Dastagir said the bill aimed at ensuring that all the properties held by the civil servants and their families should be made public so that the bureaucracy could also be held accountable.
Since, Minister for Law Babar Awan did not oppose the bill and consequently the bill was referred to the concerned committee. Justice (R) Fakharunnisa Khokher moved a bill for amending the Family Courts Act 1964 again despite its amendment done in 2009. She held that around 27,000 cases of family disputes were pending with the courts and this bill and by amending its Section 10 could expedite the settlements of case.
Minister Raza Rabbani objected to the bill saying the subject had been devolved. Fakharunnisa asserted she wanted it amended for the federal capital to which Rabbani asked her to bring a new bill. She then withdrew.
Chairperson of National Assembly Standing Committee on Law and Justice, Begum Nasim Chaudhry, submitted a report on a bill to amend the Constitution.
She filed in another report on the bill on Code of Civil Procedures 1908 and the Code of Civil procedure (Amendment) Bill 2008. Chairman of the committee for rules and procedures Nadeem Afzal Gondal and MNA Nighat Parveen presented a report recommending amendment to relevant calluses. PML-Q MNA Humayon Saifullah Khan also moved a bill seeking amendment in Rule 203 of the rules of the procedure, which was referred to the standing committee concerned.
Meanwhile, MNA Pervaiz Malik tabled a resolution in the House saying that the federal government should take steps to ensure good governance and promote corruption-free culture in government institutions. Minister Babar Awan said that the government would welcome any suggestions in this regard.
Speaker of the National Assembly Fedmida Mirza in her ruling said since there was no difference of opinion about elimination of the corruption, the wording of the resolution should be changed. Malik agreed and the resolution was deferred.
