National Assembly passes 'National Commission on the Status of Women Bill, 2012'

The National Assembly on Thursday passed "The National Commission on the Status of Women Bill, 2012" for setting up a National Commission for Women for empowerment and equalisation of opportunities for women and to provide them social, economic, political and legal rights.
The House passed the Bill with many amendments proposed by the Opposition and treasury members. The government did not oppose the amendments presented by both the sides. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Human Rights Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar moved the Bill in the House for passage.
The main amendments about the procedure of the appointment of chairperson and members of the Commission were to the Clause-4 of the Bill by Zahid Hamid of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Besides, the members from treasury benches including Dr Nafisa Shah, Ms Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Bushra Gohar, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho and others along with Opposition members Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ms Shahnaz Saleem and others presented amendments to various clauses of the Bill. The House adopted the amendments without opposing them.
According to amendment to Clause-4 a new Clause 4-A was inserted in the Bill." Appointment of Chairperson.- (1) The Federal Government shall, through public notice, invite suggestions for suitable persons for appointment as Chairperson and, after proper scrutiny, shall submit a list of these persons to the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly.
(2) The Prime Minister shall in consultation with the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly forward three names for appointment as chairperson to a Parliamentary Committee for hearing and confirmation of any one person: Provided that in case there is no consensus between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, each shall forward separate lists to the Parliamentary Committee.
(3) The Parliamentary Committee shall be constituted by the Speaker of the National Assembly and shall comprise fifty percent members from the treasury benches and fifty percent from the Opposition benches, based on their strength in Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament), to be nominated by the respective Parliamentary Leaders:
Provided that the total strength of the Parliamentary Committee shall not exceed twelve members out of which one-third shall be from the Senate.
(4) The Parliamentary Committee shall regulate its own procedure.
(5) The Parliamentary Committee shall forward the names of the nominees confirmed by it to the prime minister, who shall appoint the chairperson accordingly.
(4-A) Appointment of members:- (1) The members, including ex-officio members, shall be appointed by the prime minister from amongst the names recommended under sub-section (2).
(2) The Federal Government shall, after consultation with relevant stakeholders, will recommend to the prime minister three names for each Member who fulfil the qualifications laid down in section 3.
(3) A vacancy of a Member shall be filled as provided in sub-sections (1) and (2) within thirty days of the occurrence of the vacancy. According to objects and reasons of the Bill, where it is expedient to set up a National Commission for Women (NCD) for the empowerment of women, equalisation of opportunities, improvement in socio-economic condition, elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and matter connected therewith and incidental thereto.
The federal government, in exercise of the powers conferred to it, will therefore establish a Commission called a "National Commission on the Status of Women' which would be for promotion of social, economic, political and legal rights of women as provided in the Constitution of Pakistan.