Submission of nomination papers in person: National Assembly strikes down Musharraf-era law

The National Assembly on Tuesday passed the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2013 to do away with the condition set by former president General Pervez Musharraf (Retd), requiring submission of nomination papers by prospective candidates for provincial assemblies and the National Assembly in person. The house, set to complete its tenure on Saturday, adopted the private member's bill within minutes soon after it was introduced by Zahid Hamid of PML-N.
A PPP dissident member from Quetta, Syed Nasir Ali Shah, opposed the bill and termed the hasty approval of the bill 'bulldozing' by the house. While speaking off-the-mike, he said that a large number of private members' bills were pending, while the government and the opposition gave priority to bills which concerned politicians. The house also passed two other private members' bills.
Earlier, speaking on the salient features of the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, Hamid said that an amendment was being made in the Representation of the People Act of 1976 and the Conduct of General Elections Order of 2002. He pointed out that through the chief executive order No7 of former President General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf made an amendment in the law in 2002 to prevent PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and PPP's slain chairperson Benazir Bhutto from contesting the 2002 general elections.
He said that the purpose of the amendment was to restore the original law that nomination papers should be submitted by the candidates to the Returning Officers or by proposer/seconder or by a nominee and "there will be no restriction on the candidate to submit the nomination papers by personally appearing before the Returning Officer".
"And that the returning office shall acknowledge receipt of the nomination paper specifying the date and time of receipt," he said. Law Minister Farooq H Naek did not oppose the bill, and agreed with the assertions of his PML-N colleague. He also said that the bill was important to be passed owing to the current law and order situation, adding that it would also be passed from the Senate in "a day or two".
MQM's Wasim Akhtar, PML-Q's Sheikh Waqas Akram also spoke in favour of the bill. PML-Q's Dr Dunya Aziz, however, said that it was strange that the bill was passed within minutes while other bills had been pending for years. The house also unanimously passed the Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Bill of 2013 aimed at banning the corporal punishment to children within the institutional framework of classroom and replacing it with constructive and communicative approach. The bill was moved by Dr Attiya Inayatullah.
Meanwhile, the house also adopted a resolution moved by Dr Dunya Aziz, condemning the practice of corporal punishment. The resolution says: "caregivers institutions including schools, hospices, and orphanages as well as faculty of education institutions including schools and madrassas are especially called upon to refrain from physical reprimanding children.
"We further call upon all segments of society to play their part in raising awareness, changing behaviour, amending laws, and ensuring our children are protected from any harsh physical, mental and verbal abuse and/or coercion, which is negatively impacting their growth and development," the resolution concluded. The House also passed the Reproductive Healthcare and Rights Bill, 2013 also moved by Dr Attiya Inayatullah. The bill seeks to promote the reproductive healthcare rights of men and women and to redress the complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, which are among the leading causes and consequences of mortality and morbidity for women of reproductive age and reduce maternal deaths.
Four bills were also introduced in the House. These bills included the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Bill, 201, provides for establishment of empowered local governments in Islamabad Capital Territory. It was moved by MQM's Shaikh Salahuddin. The Legal Practitioners and Bar Council (Amendment) Bill, 2013, provides to amend the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act of 1973, which was moved by PML-N's Naseer Bhutta.
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013, provides to amend the Pakistan Penal Code of 1860 and the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1898. It was moved by MQM's Tasneem Siddiqui and Kishwar Zehra. The Overseas Pakistanis Facilitation of Voting Bill, 2013, provides to facilitate Overseas Pakistanis to vote in the General and Local Bodies Elections in the country. It was moved by MQM's Shaikh Salahuddin.
Meanwhile, a Member of the Standing Committee on Religious Affairs Nighat Mir submitted before the House a report on the Publication of the Holy Quran (Elimination of Printing and Recordings Errors) (Amendment) Bill of 2008. Earlier, responding on a call-attention notice, Minister for Capital Administration and Development Nazar Muhammad Gondal said that Islamabad Capital Territory had best maternal and child health care facilities. He said that a 200-bed facility was available at PIMS while there was a 174-bed unit at the Polyclinic Hospital primarily meant for maternal and child heath.