The government on Thursday tabled a bill in the National Assembly to amend the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority Ordinance-2002, envisaging that instead of Ogra, the centre will determine the well-head price.
The bill named the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Act-2004 intended to remove the time limit of two years for removal of difficulties in the implementation of the ordinance, the copy of the bill made available to Business Recorder said.
On behalf of Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Raza Hayat Haraj, Petroleum Minister Nouraiz Shakoor introduced a bill to amend the Defamation Ordinance-2002.
Text of the bill is as follows:
A BILL
to amend the Defamation Ordinance-2002 and the Pakistan Penal Code.
WHEREAS it is expedient to amend the Defamation Ordinance, 2002 (LVI of 2002) and the Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860) for the purposes hereinafter appearing;
It is hereby enacted as follows:
1. Short title and commencement.
(1) This Act may be called the Defamation (Amendment) Act, 2004.
(2) It shall come into force at once.
2. Amendment of section 2, Ordinance LVI of 2002. In the Defamation Ordinance, 2002 (LVI of 2002), hereinafter, referred to as the said ordinance, in section 2, after clause (b), the following new clause shall be inserted; namely:
"bb) "court" means the court of District and Sessions Judge;"
3. Insertion of new section, Ordinance LVI of 2002. In the said ordinance, after section 4, the following new section shall be inserted, namely: "4A. Liability of publisher etc. In case of libel, the publisher, editor, reporter and the distributor shall be severally and jointly liable for an action for defamation under this ordinance."
4. Amendment of section 9, Ordinance LVI of 2002. In the said ordinance, in section 9,
(i) for the figure and comma "50,000" the figure and comma "5,00000" shall be substituted;
(ii) in the brackets, for the words "fifty thousand" the words "three hundred thousand" shall be substituted; and
(iii) for the words "three months" the words "one year" shall be substituted.
5. Substitution of section 13, Ordinance LVI of 2002. In the said ordinance, for section 13, the following shall be substituted, namely:
"13. Trial of cases. The District and Sessions Judge shall have the jurisdiction to try the cases under this ordinance."
6. Amendment of section 14, Ordinance LVI of 2002. In the said ordinance, in section 14, for the words "six months" the words "ninety days" shall be substituted.
7. Amendment of section 15, Ordinance LVI of 2002. In the said ordinance, in section 15, for the words "District Judge" the word "court" shall be substituted and after the word "order" occurring at the end, the words "and the High Court shall decide the appeal within sixty days" shall be inserted.
8. Amendment of section 500, Act XLV of 1860. In the Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860), hereinafter referred to as the said Code, for section 500, the following shall be substituted, namely:
"500. Punishment for defamation. Whoever defames another shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend up to five years, or with fine which shall not be less than rupees one hundred, or with both."
9. Amendment of section 501, Act XLV of 1860. In the said Code, in section 501, for the words and commas "two years, or with fine, or with both" the words and commas "seven years, or with fine which shall not be less than rupees two hundred thousand, or with both" shall be substituted.
10. Insertion of new section, Act XLV of 1860. In the said Code, after section 502, the following new section shall be inserted, namely:
"502A. Trial of cases under this Chapter. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898), the District and Sessions Judge shall have the jurisdiction to try a case under this Chapter and decide it within a period of ninety days."
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
Defaming a person is a crime no less heinous than murder. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) equates it to eating the flesh of one's own brother. It is, therefore, the obligation of the STATE to protect the dignity, reputation and the esteem in which a person(s) is held, from any false and wanton accusation.
Law of Defamation is the part of the jurisprudence of every religion and every civilisation. Further, Quran says: "Those who love (to see) scandal broadcast among the believer, will have a grievous penalty in this life and in the hereafter."
2. Under Article 14 of the Constitution of Pakistan the dignity of man and, subject to law, the privacy of home, is inviolable. Modern law is giving extensive recognition to this right and Islam in particular lays great emphasis on the protection of privacy, honour and reputation.
3. Presently, we have the Defamation Ordinance, 2002 and the provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code dealing with defamation (sections 499 to 502). It is observed that there is general tendency to scandalise and defame others including public figures whereby perceptible injury to their reputation is caused, either for ulterior motive or through irresponsible conduct.
Therefore, it is necessary and need of the time to amend the Defamation Ordinance, 2002 and Pakistan Penal Code. This amendment is aimed at curbing this menace.
4. The Bill is designed to achieve the aforesaid objects.
The minister laid a bill to further amend the Federal Public Service Commission Ordinance-1977.
The text says:
A BILL
Further to amend the Federal Public Service Commission Ordinance, 1977.
WHEREAS it is expedient further to amend the Federal Public Service Commission Ordinance, 1977 (XLV of1977), for the purposes hereinafter appearing;
It is hereby enacted as follows:
1. Short title and commencement. (1) This Act may be called the Federal Public Service Commission (Second Amendment) Act, 2004.
(2) It shall come into force at once and shall be deemed to have taken effect on and from the 28th May, 2003.
2. Amendment of section 7, Ordinance XLV of 1977. In the Federal Public Service Commission Ordinance, 1977 (XLV of 197) in section 7, I sub-section (1),
(i) for clause (a) the following shall be substituted, namely:
"(a) to conduct tests and examinations for recruitment of persons to All Pakistan Services, the civil services of the Federation and civil posts in connection with the affairs of the federation in basic pay scales 16 and above or equivalent;" and
(ii) after sub-section (1) amended as aforesaid, the following new sub-section shall be inserted, namely:
"(1a) The recruitment to the posts in basic pay scales 11 to 15 made by any authority or person on or after the 28th May, 2003, other than through the commission, shall, notwithstanding any provision of this ordinance or any other law, rule, notification or any order, decision or judgment of any court or forum, be deemed to be and always to have been validly made, taken or done and shall not be called in question in any court or forum on any ground whatsoever."
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
An Ordinance, namely, the Federal Public Service Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2003 (III of 2003) was promulgated on 28th May, 2003 and was laid before the National Assembly which stands converted into a Bill. The ordinance stood repealed on 27.9.2003 on expiry of four months from its promulgation.
But, in the meanwhile the ministries/divisions/departments are making appointments from BPS-11 to 15. The purpose of the present bill is to validate the actions taken and appointments made in BPS-11 to 15 after 28th May, 2003.
MUHAMMAD RAZA HAYAT HARRAJ
Minister-in-charge
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