Seeking radical reforms in the country’s civil service, a bill was introduced in the National Assembly on Tuesday seeking amendments to the Civil Service Act, 1973 to stop the appointment of dual nationality holders and reappointment of retired civil servants on contract, as well as declaring those who had been drawing salaries from the defence budget ineligible for reemployment.
Khurram Jahangir Wattoo tabled the bill on the private members’ day in parliament, which later referred it to the committee concerned for further deliberation. Elaborating the features of the proposed amendments, Wattoo said no retired civil servant would be re-employed on any post in the federal government departments, its statutory bodies and organisations if the bill was passed. He said civil servants having dual nationalities would not be employed in any attached department, statutory body or other organisation under the administrative control of the federal government.
He said under the act, retiring civil servants would not be appointed in management scales, like MP, in any department of the federal government. Besides, the civil servants would declare their assets and liabilities in the form of annual statements containing all details of assets and liabilities, moveable or immovable properties, jewellery and cash, Wattoo added. He said the country was facing extreme unemployment, but lucrative jobs were being offered to retired employees, which was a sheer injustice.
Another bill, introduced by Khurram Jahangir Wattoo, sought amendments in the Capital Development Authority Ordinance, 1960 to stop encroachments, unauthorised possession of land or construction on state lands or properties. The bill has sought that a new section, namely 46AA, should be inserted in the Capital Development Authority Ordinance, 1960, whereby whoever encroaches, occupies or possess or causes unauthorised construction for any purpose on any property, which vests with the CDA, in violation of any permission of the CDA, should be punishable with imprisonment of five years or fine not less than one million rupees or as per the quantum of the losses to the CDA.
The bill has also sought the same punishment if any official abets such crimes. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) also introduced a bill for de-weaponisation of the country. The De-weaponisation of Pakistan Bill, 2011, was jointly moved by 23 parliamentarians of MQM and was referred to the concerned standing committee for further consideration. The bill sought curbs on illegal production, trade and use of arms and suggested minimum seven years of imprisonment and Rs 100 million fine for violation. Dr Abdul Kadir Khanzada introduced the bill saying de-weaponisation was necessary to improve law and order.
The chairperson of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Women Development Bushra Gohar presented a report of the committee for amending various acts and codes for enhancing women protection against acid crimes and the rehabilitation and compensation for acid victims (The Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Bill, 2010). The committee recommended that the bill, as reported by the standing committee be passed by the assembly. In a statement of objects and reasons for the bill, it was said that the crime of throwing acid on women was becoming more common due to the absence of proper legislation.
It was recommended in the bill that whoever hurt anyone by corrosive substance should be punished with imprisonment for life or imprisonment of either description, which should not be less than 14 years and a minimum fine of one million rupees.