Speakers' conference: no sacrifice to be shunned to consolidate federation, says Fahmeeda

The Punjab Assembly on the third day of its three-day 16th Speakers Conference here on Wednesday agreed with a 16-point 'Lahore Declaration' in which it undertook to carry further the spirit of '1940 Declaration' and consolidate the process of democracy in the country.
The Conference deliberated on 13 points about the current assembly and three points about the previous assembly. Dr Fahmeeda Mirza, elaborating on the Lahore Declaration of Speakers Conference, averred that no sacrifice would be shunned to consolidate and cement federation of the country.
She said that traditions set by Senate and other legislator bodies had not only resulted in enhancement of the honour of the legislators, but had reposed more confidence on people of these institutions. The Speaker in the declaration castigating terrorism applauded the sacrifices of Law Enforcement Organisations in this war.
Mirza averring on the role of women legislators said they had played an exemplary role in this regard, adding that already Women Parliamentary Caucus has been established. She said this working should be extended to Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir Assembly as well.
Fahmeeda Mirza in the Declaration talked of the rights of the Children and said that rights of the minorities are safeguarded under Article 20,22,27 of the Constitution of Pakistan. The Speaker dilating further on the Declaration of 16th Speakers Conference said that keeping in view great role of Sufi Saints there should be an amendment in the curriculum of education to include their teachings.
She said that amendments should be also made to inculcate spirit of democracy in the curriculum. Dr Fahmeeda Mirza speaking further on the Lahore Declaration asked for the implementation of the Rights of Kasmiris and demanded of the international fraternity to play their role in line with UNO Resolutions.
The Speaker said that in declaration, it has been undertaken to increase links with parliamentarians of the region and promote process of Parliamentary Diplomacy. She said that this was vital for the eradication of hunger, poverty and terrorism. In the Declaration the Speakers Conference, it resolved to make the integrity and safety of the country impregnable.
Dr Fahmeeda Mirza later on a query said that Constitutional Reforms Committee was working on the issues of 17th Amendment, Implementation of Charter of Democracy, Provincial Autonomy and other matters and their findings would soon come in the shape of a report.
She said the Conference was sending their recommendations to the Committee for the consideration. The Speaker appreciated the role of media in the coverage of the Conference and added that they were playing fruitful role for the promotion of democracy in the country.
The three-day Conference was attended by Speaker National Assembly Dr Fahmeeda Mirza, Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khoro, Dr Sikander Ali MPA Sindh; Speaker Frontier Assembly Karamat Ullah Khan, Deputy Speaker Frontier Assembly Khush Dil Khan; Speaker Balochistan Assembly Aslam Bhotani, Speaker Legislative Assembly Azad Jammu &Kashmir Shah Ghulam Qadir, Deputy Speaker Azad Jammu & Kashmir Assembly Mehr-ul-Nisa; Speaker Legislative Assembly Gilgit, Baltistan, Gilgit Wazir Baig, Deputy Speaker Legislative Assembly Gilgit, Baltistan, Gilgit; Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Muhammad Iqbal ; Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Mushood Ahmed Khan. Punjab Assembly was the host of 16th Speakers Conference in which Speaker National Assembly Dr Fahmeeda Mirza was the first woman in Chair in history.