MQM tables bill for creation of Hazara,

ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Tuesday introduced the 20th amendment bill in the Constitution for the creation of a Hazara province as well as new provinces in Punjab in order to provide, according to the text of the bill, just social services to the population of these areas.

Women parliamentarians hailing from different parties also introduced a bill to increase the representation of women in the National Assembly through direct elections.

Twelve private members’ bills were introduced in the National Assembly on Tuesday. These included the National Database and Registration Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2012, which envisages the issuance of national identity cards and children’s registration certificates to persons and children of unidentified parentage as introduced by Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho of the PPP. Through another similar bill, Dr Azra Fazal wanted the issuance of passports to persons with unidentified parentage.

Unidentified parentage means such natural persons including minor citizens and those above 18 whose parentage or lineage is not known Federal Minister Syed Khurshid Shah did not oppose the MQM bill moved by Waseem Akhtar, Sohail Mansoor, Sajid Ahmed and Asif Hasnain. He said although the government had its own point of view about new provinces it would not oppose the MQM bill. The members also wanted omission of clause 4 of Article 239 of the Constitution. According to this clause, it is mandatory to seek permission from the assembly of the respective province before its further division.

MQM members wanted the insertion of the names of Hazara and Southern Punjab (one or more provinces to be ascertained through a referendum) in Article 1 of the Constitution. The statement of objects of the bill says that besides administrative inconvenience, the cultural and social diversity within the ideological unity also necessitates making new provinces.

Bushra Gohar (ANP), Nafisa Shah (PPP), Tasneem Siddiqui (PML-N), Asiya Nasir (JUI-F) and Attiya Inaytullah introduced the Political Parties Order (Amendment) Bill, 2012 which provides that women members be elected to a minimum of 10% general seats in the National Assembly. According to the bill, every political party shall have a minimum of 33% quota for women in the party’s general council and in any associated party committees and forums at the federal, provincial and local levels.

Khurram Jahangir Watto introduced a bill seeking issuance of national identity cards for a lifetime so that approximately at least 5% of citizens, always in need of issuance of identity cards after expiry date, may be saved from hardship.

Khurram Watto also introduced the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2012 that provides that no person sentenced to death shall be transferred to the death cell unless the sentence of death is confirmed by the High Court.

Shireen Arshad Khan introduced the Reservation of Quota for Residents of Islamabad Capital Territory (Provincial Services) Bill, 2012 that provides for reservation of one percent quota of the seats in the provincial services for persons domiciled in Islamabad Capital Territory. The other bills introduced in the house include the Criminal Law (Amendment Bill, 2012 and The Civil Services (Qualification for Appointment as High Court Judge) (Repeal) Bill, 2012.