Despite low attendance, the National Assembly on Friday approved the National Counter Terrorism Authority Bill 2013 unanimously.
The session started with tunes of the national anthem to mark the International Women’s Day, as the House unanimously adopted a resolution to pay tribute to women for their contribution in various sectors of life.
The 15th sitting of National Assembly’s 50th session that lasted for an hour and eight minutes, opened under the leadership of Dr Fehmida Mirza after a delay of 47 minutes.
There were only 64 members present in the House.
Federal Law Minister Farooq H Naek tabled The National Counter Terrorism Authority Bill 2013 in the House, which was taken up clause by clause.
Tariq Shabir of the Pakistan People’s Party and Shereen Arshad of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz presented amendments in clauses 3,5,6,8,9,10 and 11 of the bill that were accepted and stood part of the bill after Naik did not oppose them.
However, the amendment suggested for clause 7 of the bill presented by PML-N member Shereen Arshad was rejected due to opposition by the Law Minister.
Dr Azra Fazal Peecho, chairperson of the NA standing body on defence presented a report on the Surveying and Mapping Bill 2013.
According to the National Counter Terrorism Authority Bill 2013, an anti-terrorism department would be formed that would be headed by the prime minister and a national policy against terrorism would be formulated.
The bill has already been approved by the Senate on March 5.
According to the bill, suspects accused of terrorism will be interrogated by an inspector level officer, while audio video recordings, phone recordings and emails could be used as evidence.
The bill also allows government authorities to take action against financiers of terrorism along with confiscation of assets.
However, the National Assembly will be dissolved on March 16, which raises questions regarding who would formulate the anti-terrorism policy.
Marking the International Women’s Day, the House unanimously adopted a resolution to pay tribute to women for their contribution to various sectors of life.
The Question Hour was suspended as 10 legislators spoke for 30 minutes on the International Women’s Day.
Law Minister Farooq H Naik said the female population of the country was around 90 million and about 65 percent were uneducated, adding that “following the International Women’s Day, legislation was direly needed to end physical violence against women”.
The NA speaker felicitated women across the globe, saying the portion of society had played a significant role despite worst conditions and violence against it.
“The current ahas passed 24 bills on women and children in the five years of the House and the main role in this connection was played by parliamentarians who are also mothers in their houses.”
Fehmida stressed a joint struggle for women rights in the country.
Dr Azhra Fazal Peecho highlighted the important initiatives introduced by the PPP-led government, including the Benazir Income Support Programme and passage of the bill against violence against women.
Shereen Arshad of the PML-N paid rich tribute to the speaker NA for running the House smoothly being the custodian of the House.
PML-Q MNA Bushra Rehman thanked the NA speaker for playing national anthem in the House, adding that issues and problems being faced by women in far-flung areas should be highlighted and resolved.
MQM MP Kishwar Zahra noted that women were also on the hit list of terrorists and AbbasTown blast, Quetta bombings and attack on Malala Yousufzai in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were recent examples.
Nafeesa Shah from the PPP presented a motion on behalf of all political parties in the House, adding that female parliamentarians would keep on working on issues of women and would not let their rights be crushed.
