ISLAMABAD – Terming the day a historic one, Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms, Mian Raza Rabbani Tuesday presented a report with regard to the proposed 19th amendment in the Constitution in the National Assembly.
“This is a unique moment in the political history of the country as two very important unanimously adopted constitutional bills are being presented before the House,” he said while laying the report. Rabbani said that when some of the articles of the 18th Amendment were challenged in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, some people were waiting for a clash among the institutions but the Supreme Court sent it back to the Parliament for a review. No political party has given a dissenting note on the 19th amendment, he added.
He congratulated and thanked the President, the Prime Minister, all political partiesÂ’ heads and the National Assembly Speaker for giving a free hand0 to the Committee, which made it possible for him to present a unanimously adopted report on 19th amendment in the House.
He said that all the constitutional institutions were functioning within their constitutional ambits and the political system in the country was strengthening day-by-day. He also paid tributes to the members of the Committee and said without their active cooperation, it was not possible for him to develop consensus with regard to the unanimous amendments.
Later, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani congratulated the House on the presentation of the report with regard to the report on 19th amendment and a successful test of a ballistic missile Hatf-5.
He was of the view that the incumbent Parliament was the most independent than the previous ones and its seriousness and devotion to resolve the issues had shut the mouth of those who had been terming it a rubberstamp parliament.
Premier Gilani said that he had been a member of the parliament since 1982 to 2002 and he never saw such an independent parliament. “The last Parliament did nothing but only chanted slogans of ‘Go Musharraf Go,” the Prime Minister commented.
Congratulating the Chairman and members of the Committee and heads of the political parties, he said that the Parliament, politicians, media and judiciary were passing through an evolution and were turning more mature and strong.
“I compliment the role of Supreme Court for referring the matter to the Parliament for a review. The Judiciary has given highest respect to the Parliament and the Parliament has
reciprocated in the same manner,” he said.
PML-Q leader Riaz Pirzada said the ParliamentÂ’s maturity strengthened political institutions and the unanimous resolution had cemented the democratic system. Aftab Shaikh of PML-N said it was a historic day when the Committee had drafted a unanimous amendment, which would help restore the 1973 Constitution in its true form.
However, Kashmala Tariq of PML-Q (Likeminded) and Bahadur Khan Sehar of PML-Q and Nawab Yousuf of PPP said that the procedure of making new provinces in the country should be relaxed in the 19th amendment.
Meanwhile, Chairman Standing Committee on Religious Affairs Maulana Muhammad Qasim presented a report of the committee on ‘The Registration of Haj Bill, 2008’. The Bill provides for regulating, controlling and facilitating the business of Haj operators.
Earlier, responding to a calling attention notice, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said that Sikhs were not refused of visa to visit pilgrims on the occasion of their founderÂ’s day in Pakistan.
He said that he had checked the matter from Interior Ministry and there was no report of the refusal of visas to 300 Sikh pilgrims. The calling attention notice was moved by MNAs Shakeela Khanam, Rubina Saadat Qaim Khani, and others.
According to the draft of the report, it has been recommended that Judicial Commission would nominate judges and send its nominations to the parliamentary committee, that would have the authority to reject the same and send it back to the Commission for review. The Commission would again nominate other judges for appointment and would send it back to the parliamentary committee, that would send the nomination to the prime minister for appointment.
The channel said 26 amendments have been made in six articles of the Constitution. Two in article 81, one each in article 175 and 182, 12 in article 175A, two in article 213 and eight amendments made to article 246.
The areas surrounding Lakki Marwat and Tank will be considered Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) areas in this amendment.
Meanwhile, Minister for Law Justice and Preliminary Affairs Dr Babar Awan said on Tuesday that the government will table 19th Amendment in the National Assembly on Wednesday (today).
Talking to media outside the Parliament, he said the Ministry has prepared the 19th Amendment, the Federal Cabinet will approve it and it would be tabled in the National Assembly on Wednesday and will be approved during the ongoing session.
The draft of the amendment bill is likely tabled before the National Assembly tomorrow (Thursday) after its formal approval from the Federal Cabinet today (Wednesday).
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms (PCCR) Senator Mian Raza Rabbani had tabled the report of the Committee before the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Sources in the Parliament informed The Nation that the draft of 19th Constitutional Amendment would be presented before the Federal Cabinet on Wednesday (today) for approval and once it was okayed by the Cabinet it would be tabled before the National Assembly on Thursday and is likely be passed by the Parliament the same day.
Agencies add: According a TV channel said 26 amendments have been made in six articles of the Constitution. Two in article 81, one each in article 175 and 182, 12 in article 175A, two in Article 213 and eight amendments made to article 246.
The areas surrounding Lakki Marwat and Tank will be considered Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) areas in this amendment.
Meanwhile, Minister for Law Justice and Preliminary Affairs Dr Babar Awan said on Tuesday that the government will table 19th Amendment in the National Assembly on Wednesday (today).
Talking to media outside the Parliament, he said the Ministry has prepared the 19th Amendment, the Federal Cabinet will approve it and it would be tabled in the National Assembly on Wednesday and will be approved during the ongoing session.