The National Assembly minus opposition on Tuesday passed the bill, seeking to enhance punishment for Karo-Kari (honour killing). However, a government ally pointed out certain lacunae. Though the clause-by-clause reading of the bill was completed on Monday, yet it could not be passed due to non-availability of minimum required members in the House.
The opposition parties dubbed the bill a "futile exercise", which they feared, would encourage the perpetrators instead of serving as a deterrent. The government ally, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), also contended that there were some lacunae in the law that should be addressed.
For instance, Kanwar Khalid Younis of MQM emphasised that the State should be made the ''Wali'' in honour killing-related cases.
Tuesday is a private members day and bulk of the agenda pertains to the opposition. However, all of their items were dropped due to their boycott of the House business.
Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians MNA Ms Sherry Rehman''s bill on the same subject was rejected by the treasury. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Women Development Nilofar Bakhtiar had described it a mere "political stunt".
The chair referred a 15-amendment bill, by M.P. Bhandara pertaining to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of the Business to the House special committee.
He also referred two privilege motions, involving some opposition lawmakers for occupying space in front of the speakers'' dais chanting slogans with back towards the chair.
However, the most significant happening in the House was Speaker Amir Hussain hurling a stern warning to the aggressive-looking opposition lawmakers. "Enough is enough. I tolerated and bore with opposition''s rowdy behaviour for two years. But from now on, I will take steps to ensure the House rules are no more violated. What the opposition members have been doing is contempt of the House."
The speaker, who was warned of another no-confidence motion by Hafiz Hussain Ahmed of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) a day earlier, calling out the name of Hafiz not to turn his back to the chair, cautioned to take action against him if he and other opposition lawmakers kept flouting the rules.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz unlike the previous sittings, spend some time and several ministers and ruling legislators met him.
The warning came, as dozens of opposition members came in front of the speaker''s dais, chanting slogans against President Musharraf and Tehmina Daultana displaying photograph of jailed PML-N leader Javed Hashmi. The lawmakers demanded release of Hashmi, Yousaf Reza Gillani and Asif Ali Zardari.
The speaker read out relevant rules during which the opposition members with black armbands hastened to stage a walkout. Around one dozen sergeant-at-arms, including one lady officer manned the speaker''s dais.
Meanwhile, some treasury lawmakers made brief but emotional statements, asking the government to lift ban on holding of religious congregations.
After the recitation from the Holy Quran, opposition MNA Tasneem Qureshi was on his feet to point out that the quorum was incomplete. But to his dismay, the chair ''ignored'' him for some time and gave floor to the treasury MNAs.
Riaz Hussain Pirzada protested against the ban and questioned the rationale behind such a measure in a Muslim society. "There is no sectarian problem. Please identify and crush the enemies of the country, who wanted to create sectarian strife," he said.
He said that come what may, mourning congregations and rallies would be held to mark the martyrdom of Hazrat Ali (RA) on 21st of the holy month of Ramazan.
Another MNA Rashid Akbar said when there was no check or restriction on holding Iftar parties, Taraveeh and other functions, then there was no reason in banning the religious gatherings.
Sibtain Hussain Bokhari and Ejaz Chaudhry also called for lifting ban on religious congregations. Ejaz Chaudhry even proposed that Iftaris for VIPs should be arranged at such places, which should not cause any problem to the common man.
Treasury''s minority MNA Gayan Chand Singh questioned why the election of the chairman of the minorities standing committee had not been held? He said the committee members had long been elected.
The speaker, unlike the past practices, thanked the treasury for their co-operation in running the House and expected from the opposition to also follow the suit. Saying this, he read out the presidential prorogation order.
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