The National Assembly Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights on Monday deferred the Constitution Amendment Bill, 2014 seeking an increase in the number of Balochistan seats in the National Assembly and provincial assembly till a fresh population census.
The meeting met with Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk in the chair. It unanimously decided to defer deliberations on Constitution Amendment in Articles 51 and 106, moved by MNA Asiya Nasir, till a fresh population census in Balochistan is carried out by March, 2016.
MNA Muhammad Moeen Wattoo, Sardar Muhammad Amjad Farooq Khan Khosa, Kiran Haider, Syed Ayaz Ali Shah Sherazi, Shagufta Jumani, Munaza Hassan, Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani, Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani and senior officials attended the meeting.
The committee observed that an increase in the number of seats will not help Balochistan province whereas amendment in the Constitution cannot be carried out without its approval from the Senate. Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk said that there is no harm in increasing the number of seats of Balochistan in National Assembly and provincial assembly but it would play no role towards the solution of the real problems faced by the people of Balochistan, adding it will only be a good gesture.
MNA Ali Muhammad Khan Advocate said that an increase in the number of seats in the National Assembly would not help solve public problems and there is a need to empower local government system in the country to address public problems. However, he suggested deferring of the Bill up to next population census.
Mumtaz Ahmed Tarar said that if we pass this Bill without holding proper deliberation only to show good gesture, it would create serious problems; therefore, the committee needs to take stock of it thoroughly. S.A Iqbal Quadri said the bill should be deferred till the next Census. MNA Asiya Nasir, the mover of the Bill, said there is no harm in enhancement of number of seats and it will encourage deprived people of Balochistan. She said that 14 seats have been allocated for Balochistan in the National Assembly despite the fact that area-wise Balochistan is 43.6 percent of the country.
She maintained that the people are facing a lot of difficulties to move from one area to another, therefore if the number of representatives of this area is increased it will play a vital in the prosperity of this poor and backward area.
The senior official of the Ministry of Law and Justice apprised the committee members that the allocation of seats in the National Assembly and the Provincial Assemblies is linked to the preceding census, officially published, as the seats are allocated on the basis of population. The mover of the Bill should wait for an official census on the basis of which representation could be given.
The committee also took up the Constitution (amendment) Act, 2015 {Amendment of Article 63 Insertion of Article 63-B} moved by Muhammad Raza Hayat Hiraj, MNA for consideration. However, the committee decided to defer the Bill in question keeping in view absence of mover of the Bill. The committee also took up the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2015" {Amendment of Article 92(1)} and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2015" (Amendment of Article 260} moved by Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, MNA. The committee recommended their removal.