Moved by SA Iqbal Qadri and others, the bill was referred to the concerned standing committee for debate and submission of a report to the House. Overall, 11 amendment bills, including the Protection of Journalists Bill, 2014, were introduced in the NA and were referred to the concerned standing committees on Tuesday.
The NA, however, rejected a constitutional amendment bill for an amendment in Article 1 of the Constitution for the creation of new provinces, namely South Punjab and Hazara, which were sought to be introduced by Jamshed Dasti who hails from Muzaffargarh. The move was opposed by the government and later rejected by the House.
Federal Minister Zahid Hamid, while opposing the bill, said that new provinces could not be created through just an amendment in Article 1 of the Constitution.Sahibzada Tariqullah of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) introduced the Protection of Journalists (Amendment) Bill, 2014, on behalf of other parliamentarians. The bill was referred to the concerned standing committee. It calls for the legal protection of and security to working journalists and their families in the wake of the murder of Wali Khan Babar and other journalists.
The draft of the bill bearing the signatures of JI MNAs Sahibzada Tariqullah, Sahibzada Muhammad Yaqoob, Sher Akbar and Ayesha Syed is aimed at providing protection to the lives of journalists in the field, workplaces and at their residences.The statement of objects and reasons for the bill says that there is need for proper legislation for the solution of the problems being faced by the journalist community.
According to the bill, the government would also be responsible for arranging special security to journalists on their request. It says that the Station House Officer (SHO) of the concerned police station would ensure the provision of security to media persons failing which he would be responsible for any harm to journalists.
The bill also provides for the establishment of a National Journalists Council that would give recommendations from time to time to devise a mechanism for the protection of the journalist community and their families.
Another constitutional amendment bill seeking amendment in Article 151 of the Constitution moved by Asiya Nasir of the JUI-F and others was also referred to the standing committee.Ayub Nasir and others also introduced the Constitution Amendment Bill envisaging the creation of one more National Assembly seat from Balochistan which was also sent to the related standing committee.
Two identical bills moved by SA Iqbal Qadri and others seeking an amendment in the Pakistan Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure were also referred to the standing committee concerned. The two bills proposed imprisonment from seven to 10 years for those who desecrated dead bodies and removed their organs.
The Civil Servants Amendment Bill moved by Khalida Mansoor, the Islamabad Rent Restriction Bill moved by Mian Abdul Mannan, the Election Laws Amendment Bill by Azra Fazal Pechuho, the Criminal Amendment Bill moved by Aliya Kamran and Shahida Akhtar Ali were also sent to the concerned standing committees.
The Transplantation of Human Organs, Tissues Bill moved by Kishwer Zehra and SA Iqbal Qadri was also referred to the concerned standing committee. This bill relates to donation of human organs of those who have lost their lives in accidents.
Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, lawmaker from the ruling party PML-N, introduced a bill for the amendment of Article 51 of the Constitution.Ramesh Kumar, who is also Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council, while introducing the bill on the floor, said that non-Muslims must have the right to a dual vote, one for general seats and other for reserved seat.
The bill says that besides changing the election criteria of reserved seats for non-Muslims, it is also proposed to give the right to the non-Muslims to cast double vote. This means dual franchise and enables non-Muslims to cast one vote to a general seat candidate and the second to a member of their own community.
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