President Pervez Musharraf has summoned the 40th session of National Assembly on April 23 at 5 pm, says an official announcement. Parliamentary sources told APP the session is going to be very hectic "in view of some important developments" that have taken place since the last session in February.
"The government during the session will bring all-important legislation as private members bill concerning abolition of some discriminatory laws against women," sources said.
Pakistan Muslim League president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain during the last session had moved a bill seeking an end to Vani and other un-Islamic practices against women. The bill, if passed, will also put an end to women's forced marriages and marriage to the Holy Quran, denial of their right in inheritance and selling of women and barter marriages.
It also makes giving three verbal divorces to woman a cognisable offence. "Recommendations of Ulema have also been incorporated in the bill and we will welcome any positive proposal from the opposition to make it a comprehensive piece of legislation," Chaudhry Shujaat said.
He appreciated the co-operation of the opposition members, particularly PPPP, during the passage of Women Protection Law late last year and hoped that this bill will also get a similar response. The 40th session of the lower house of parliament, according to the NA calendar was earlier scheduled for March 26.
"There is a lot of pending legislative business in the National Assembly which will be there on the agenda during the 40th session," officials said. Although during the 39th session, some important legislation was carried out, but the issue of quorum continued to haunt the 342-member lower house, hampering the proceedings and the process of law making.
Officials said some of the pending legislative business which will be taken up, includes the prevention and control of human trafficking (amendment) bill, conversion of Industrial Development Bank of Pakistan into a public limited company, establishment of the Pakistan Council for Science and Technology, the public complaints (Speedy Redressal of Grievances) Bill, 2003.
The Banking Companies Amendment Bill, Pakistan Tobacco Board (Amendment) Bill, the Post Office (Amendment Bill) and the Labour Laws (Amendment) Bill. The opposition, officials maintained, will press for debate on the issue of Jamia Hafsa, the coming general elections and law and order situation in the country.
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