Four bills to be moved in National Assembly: Prime Minister

29 Jul, 2004

Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has said that the government will introduce four bills in the National Assembly for legislation, including the bill against the menace of honour killing, during the current session.
He expressed these views while speaking to journalists after chairing PML and its ally parties parliamentary meeting, held here at Parliament House on Wednesday.
Shujaat Hussain said that they have unanimously decided to take up four bills in the current session, which include honour killing, medico-legal, defamation and amendment in anti-terrorism act 1997.
Giving details, he mentioned that the bill against honour killing would be introduced as promised. However, he said that it would be called honour-killing bill, as the word of Karo Kari will be deleted from it.
It may be mentioned here that the bill on honour killing will replace a similar bill moved by PPPP MNA Sherry Rehman on March 24, 2004.
The Prime Minister said that the government would seek advice from Islamic Ideology Council in this regard, as it is a very serious issue. He was formally of the view that this social evil should be eradicated from the society.
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain informed the newsmen that another bill would be introduced to amend the anti-terrorism act 1997, to include churches and Imambargahs in the said act, as so far only the word mosques is mentioned.
He added that it would enable the government to curb terrorism more effectively.
Giving details about bill of defamation, the Prime Minister said that we should stop politics of mud slinging. The government will launch a crusade against fraud, injustice and politics of lies, Shujaat emphasised, adding that a proactive approach will be adopted in this regard.
Shujaat Hussain said that under the new law, session judge would hear defamation cases and he would be bound to announce verdict within 90 days.
To a query, he responded that this law would not affect the freedom of press.
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said that bill of medico-legal would also be introduced in the National Assembly to provide protection to doctors.
Under this law, doctors will be allowed to examine patients brought to the hospitals without wasting time for registration of the case.
Replying to another query, the Prime Minister made it clear that the government will evolve consensus with opposition parties on all the legislative issues.

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