The NWFP Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution with majority to authorise the National Assembly to make legislation for genetic protection of plants in the Frontier province.
The resolution moved by NWFP Agriculture Minister Qari Mehmood that brought the criticism of the opposition, who objected to give authority to the federal government to legislate genetic protection of plants on behalf of the Frontier province.
The contents of the resolution as read out in the house under Article 144 of the Constitution of 1973 allowed the Lower House of the Parliament to make laws on behalf of the province.
The federal government, the resolution continued, with the consultation of the provincial government would table the bill in the parliament for approval.
On the demand of the opposition, NWFP Speaker Bakht Jehan Khan put the resolution to vote in the assembly, where 67 members of the house favoured the resolution and 21 votes came in opposition.
The ANP Parliamentary Leader in the NWFP Assembly, Bashir Ahmad Bilour, who objected to the resolution as against the provincial rights was also supported by a number of MPAs, including Opposition Leader Shehzada Gustasap Khan, Abdul Akbar Khan (PPP-Parliamentarians), and Qazi Asad of PML.
The minister concerned apprised the house that decision has been taken in the inter-provincial co-ordination committee and assemblies of Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab have passed resolution of the similar nature.
The opposition members continued argument and insisted on deferring the resolution. However, after quite a lengthy debate, the chair put the resolution to vote, and the house passed it with majority.
The provincial assembly also approved 10 demand of grants for supplementary budget for fiscal 2003-04 amounting to Rs 433.8 million.
The demands for grants were pertaining to different departments, including parliamentary affairs, finance, planning and development, environment, science & technology, and excise & taxation.
The opposition members were highly critical of the spending of Rs 352 million on the police department.
Meanwhile, MPA Qulb-e-Hassan from Kohat continued his boycott from the provincial assembly proceedings despite request by Speaker Bakht Jehan Khan to join the session.
The MPA, who had elected on ANP ticket, but was later expelled from the party for alleged violation of party discipline in Senate polls has also resigned from all committees of the assembly in protest.