NA committee rejects bill on regional languages Dawn May 19, 2011

By Amir Wasim | From the Newspaper

ISLAMABAD, May 18: A National Assembly committee rejected on Wednesday a private member’s bill seeking status of national language for six regional languages spoken in the country. However, the bill’s rejection divided the Pakistan People’s Party and the committee itself on provincial lines, sources told Dawn.

The bill, which had been moved by the Pakistan Muslim League-Q MNA Marvi Memon more than two years ago seeking amendment to Article 251 of the Constitution, was rejected by the members through a majority vote polled mostly on provincial lines.

Ms Memon and veteran PPP leader Syed Zafar Ali Shah, both from Sindh, staged a walkout in protest over the bill’s rejection. The only other member from Sindh was MQM’s Iqbal Qadri, who opposed the bill, though “mildly”, according to the sources.

Later, Ms Memon told Dawn that she walked out of the meeting not just in protest against the bill’s rejection but also over the “uncalled for” remarks of PPP MNA from Nankana Sahib Saeed Ahmed Zafar who termed it an “anti-Pakistan bill”.

Through the bill, Ms Memon had called for declaring Balochi, Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Shina and Seraiki as national languages alongside Urdu.

According to the sources, when one of the committee members opposed the bill and said that it was Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah who had declared Urdu as the national language, Zafar Ali Shah said there had been great resentment over this announcement in East Pakistan which ultimately resulted in a great tragedy.

When contacted, Mr Shah said those who opposed the bill actually did not know the importance of regional languages. “When we did not accept the demand of the majority of East Pakistan people to declare Bengali as national language, how will they agree to grant the same status to Sindhi, Seraiki or any other regional language,” he added.

Mr Shah, who was deputy speaker of the National Assembly when present prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was its speaker, admitted that there had been no practice in any party, including the PPP, to organise brainstorming sessions on various issues to evolve a common stand. He said he supported the bill because he believed that it could strengthen the federation.

Ms Memon said Mr Shah’s support for the bill clearly showed that the ruling party had no clear policy on the issue. She said it was a matter of concern as to how the PPP would ensure provincial autonomy when it was not ready even to give respect to the regional languages. She said that she tried hard to convince the committee members about the importance of the bill by giving examples of other countries like India, but to no avail.

Expressing her surprise over rejection of the bill, Ms Memon said her document was neither related to sharing of resources nor to any financial matter.

Daily Times
May 19, 2011
NA body rejects bill to give regional languages status of national language
By Tanveer Ahmed
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly’s (NA) Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, on Wednesday, rejected the bill to give regional languages the status of national languages amidst wrangling between members on both sides of the fence on this particular bill.

The discussion on the bill triggered exchange of harsh words between members who resorted to anti-Pakistan and pro-Pakistan sloganeering when the committee met under the chair of MNA Begum Nasim Akhtar Chaudhry.

The bill, moved by PML-Q MNA Marvi Memon, faced a strong resistance from a majority of the members, with one of them pointing the finger at the mover of the bill for going against the national interests.

“This bill is anti-Pakistan and we will not allow anyone to go for the passage of this bill, which is contrary to the vision of the founding father, Quaid-e-Azam, who declared Urdu as the national language,” MNA Saeed Ahmed Zafar declared in an angry tone.

The harsh words against the bill infuriated Marvi, who strongly protested the use of such a language against her by Zafar.

Declaring that she is pro-Pakistan, Marvi vowed to bring the bill again to the committee, upon which Zafar remarked that it would meet the same fate whenever it was presented in the committee. Later, Marvi left the meeting. PPP MNA from Sindh Syed Zafar Ali Shah also supported the bill and walked out from the meeting in protest against the anti-Pakistan words used for those people who wanted to give regional languages the status of national languages.

MNA Abdul Ghafoor Chaudhry, opposing the bill, said that such a move would complicate the matters, as all the official records would have to be translated in the regional languages if they are declared national languages. Chairperson of the committee Begum Nasim Akhtar Chaudhry, MNA Tariq Shabir, SA Iqbal Qadri and Shakeela Khanum Rasheed also opposed the bill. They, however, said that regional languages should be promoted in their respective provinces.

Earlier, the committee took up the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2010 put forward by Marvi pertaining to reforms in the electoral system.

The Nation
NA body members clash over regional languages bill
Published: May 19, 2011

ISLAMABAD – After a brief verbal brawl among its members, the NA Standing Committee on Law and Justice rejected the bill with majority about giving status of national language to regional languages.
With Begum Nasim Akhtar in chair, the committee met on Wednesday and took up several issues including the bill seeking status of national language for the regional languages.
PML-Q MNA Marvi Memon had submitted the bill in the National Assembly Secretariat seeking amendment in Article 251 of the Constitution so that the regional languages including Sindhi, Pushto, Saraiki, Baluchi, Punjabi, Balti and Shena be given the status of national language.

Daily Times
May 11, 2011

NA passes bill to prevent acid attacks against women

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Lower House of parliament unanimously passed on Tuesday Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Bill, 2010 to prevent incidents of acid throwing at women besides to compensate them and rehabilitate them.

The bill recommended that whoever hurt by corrosive substance shall be punished with imprisonment for life or imprisonment of either description which shall not be less than 14 years and a minimum fine of Rs 1 million.

The bill, moved by MNA Marvi Memon, received enthusiastic response from the female parliamentarians across the party lines, who believed that the legislation was a landmark occasion to check acid throwing incidents, which mostly target the fair sex.

Though the government, initially showed some hesitation to pass the bill as Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Shah wanted to discuss it further, however, it finally allowed it to be tabled when some of its own parliamentarians pressed for its passage without any further delay.

Speaking on the occasion, Marvi dedicated the bill to all the victims of acid attacks, especially those women who have passed through agony and trauma.

The Express Tribune

NA passes bill: Acid-throwers to get harsher punishment
By Qamaruz Zaman
Published: May 11, 2011
The crime shall be punished with life imprisonment or imprisonment of at least 14 years.

Efforts by the civil society and rights’ organisations to bring justice to victims of acid crimes saw the light of day on Tuesday when a bill proposing strict punishment for perpetrators of the heinous crime was passed unanimously in the National Assembly.

“Whoever victimises someone through the use of corrosive substance shall be punished with life imprisonment or imprisonment of either description which shall not be less than 14 years and a minimum fine of one million rupees,” read the newly introduced section 336B that amended the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1908.

Introduced by Marvi Memon and Begum Shahnaz from the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and Anusha Rehman Khan of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the House passed the Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Bill, 2010’ with a consensus.

“The crime of throwing acid on women is becoming more common by the day. The main cause of it is the absence of proper legislation on this subject. In view of these circumstances, there has been an increasing need to make a comprehensive legislation in this regard,” said a statement revealing the objectives of the legislation.

In its annual report, the Human Rights Commission Pakistan (HRCP) had reported 30 incidents of acid throwing during the last year. With the realisation of the growing incidents of violence against women, the bill includes three specific clauses about acid crimes.

After the passage of the bill, Memon urged members for the implementation of the law in their respective constituencies. Bushra Gohar, chairperson of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Women’s Development, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Advocate Anusha Rahman Khan, Fauzia Ejaz, Fauzia Wahab and others appreciated the role of the House on the legislation.

Meanwhile, newly elected PML-Q member of the National Assembly, Awais Ahmed Khan Legahri announced that he would sit on the opposition benches in reaction to his party’s decision to join the federal cabinet.

Speaking on a point of order, Legari requested the Deputy Speaker that he not be allocated a seat on the treasury benches till the creation of the new province (Seraiki) in Punjab.

“The PPP and the PML-Q leadership had assured us of constitutional amendment in the parliament for the creation of a separate province in Southern Punjab but my party (PML-Q) joined the government only on a statement issued by the presidential spokesman,” he said.

Asif Husnain of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) highlighted as many as 1,000 illegal appointments in the Sui Southern Gas Company.

Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao censured senior minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi for his recent statement against the devolution of the health ministry, the Higher Education Commission and others saying that the same party (PML-Q) was the signatory of the 18th amendment constitutional bill and hence, cannot oppose the devolution process.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2011

The News
Fateha offered for Osama in NA PML-Q’s Owais Leghari, Marvi sit on opposition benches over Seraiki province;

Asim Yasin
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

ISLAMABAD: An interesting situation emerged in the National Assembly on Tuesday when independent MNA, Maulvi Asmatullah, managed to offer Fateha for Osama bin Laden while the treasury MNAs looked on helplessly.

As Asmatullah raised his hands in prayer, Maulana Attaur Rehman and Laiq Ahmed of the JUI-F joined him. Interestingly, newly inducted Minister of State for Health, Shahjehan Yousaf of the PML-Q, who belongs to Mansehra, and PPP MNA, Sher Muhammad Baloch, also joined in. When Asmatullah started to offer the prayer, Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi tried to stop him, saying: “What you are doing? I did not give you permission.”

Asmatullah did not heed the call and continued praying. Prior to offering prayers for Osama Bin laden, Asmatullah said on a point of order: “The Americans claim they allowed the last rites for Osama bin Laden to be performed as per Islamic values. So it is proper for us to pray for bin Laden also.” Earlier, on a point of order, PML-Q legislator Owais Khan Leghari announced that even though his party had joined the government “I and Marvi Memon will sit on the opposition benches.” He said when the new alliance was created, a promise was made that a Seraiki province would be created, but no commission was formed to carry out the required constitutional amendment. “So far the presidential spokesman has made a statement on the agreement for the creation of a Seraiki province, but no solid steps have been taken in this direction,” he added.

Through another point of order, PML-N legislator Shireen Arshad demanded the reopening of the country’s sole sports channel Geo Super: “When India has its own sports channels why can’t Pakistani channels be granted licences from Pakistan?” She demanded that Pemra allow the up-linking of Geo Super and said the whole country stood behind her call.

Meanwhile, on a private members day, the National Assembly unanimously passed the Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Bill 2010. The bill was moved by Marvi Memon and is aimed at providing protection to women from acid crimes. It also provides compensation for victims. The bill, which will now be sent to the Senate for consideration.

The News

Motion to be submitted against

Saadia Khalid
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Islamabad

PML-Q MNA Marvi Memon will submit a privilege motion against Implementation Commission Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani for what she termed misleading the parliament on the issue of devolution of the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

According to her, the HEC has full legal cover under the 18th Amendment, but Mian Raza Rabbani told the parliament that it has to be devolved to implement the 18th Amendment in its true spirit. “According to legal experts, the HEC has full legal cover under FLL1 and FLL 2, but Mian Raza Rabbani misinterpreted the 18th Amendment and misguided the parliament,” she said.

Marvi Memon was addressing a seminar on ‘Save Education, Save Pakistan’ organised by the Defending HEC Movement here on Tuesday. She said that the HEC was among those few institutions in the country, which were performing well. “The HEC should not be devolved for vested interests rather its federal status should remain intact for the larger interest of the country,” she added.

She criticised the PML-Q leadership for not taking up the issue of HEC seriously. “The PML-Q is not serious in resolving the issue of HEC after becoming part of the government,” she said. She asked the PML-Q leadership to take up the issue of HEC on immediate basis.

Former minister for science and technology Azam Swati on the occasion indicated that a few parliamentarians tried to move a resolution on the HEC in the Senate. “It is quite surprising for me that despite prime minister’s order and Supreme Court’s verdict, a few parliamentarians were all set to move a resolution on HEC, though they didn’t get a chance to do so,” he said.

He said that it was he who walked out from the parliament last year to protest against the massive budget cut in the HEC and he would continue to extend his support to the HEC in national interest. “The majority of those sitting in the parliament are ‘jahils’ (illiterates) with fake degrees and don’t want to see the HEC in its current status in future,” he said.

He said that a huge amount of Rs80 billion of taxpayers is being spent on the bogus Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), but the government is not ready to pay Rs24 billion for the future of the country. “It is unfortunate that we are spending only 1.2% of GDP on education, but our rulers are not ready to think about it as their stakes are not in this country,” he said.

Qazi Hussain Ahmed on the occasion said that education should be top priority of the government, but unfortunately it has never been the case. “Education is not at all a subject to be devolved to give provincial autonomy as it is a tool to create harmony among people of this country,” he said.

He said that devolving education to provinces would mean that distribution of a nation in four nations. “If the government really wants to give autonomy to provinces then it should distribute resources to provinces not subjects like education,” he said.

Former HEC chairman Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman said that in most federations around the world, including China, Japan, Turkey, Malaysia and South Korea, higher education is a federal subject. India has a UGC with a federal secretary of higher education, United Kingdom has a minister for universities and research, while in Korea the status of deputy prime minister has been given to the minister of higher education.