The National Assembly on Tuesday echoed with a debate on agricultural land reforms in the country, leaving the lawmakers having feudal background on both sides of the aisle in a state of discomfort. Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) stirred up the hornet's nest by introducing the bill in the House regarding the agricultural land reforms as some members having large land holdings, especially from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), vehemently opposed it.
Though Law Minister Zahid Hamid did not oppose the bill, some members of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) were also seen unconformable in their cozy seats. The Speaker referred the bill to relevant standing committee of the House for further discussion on it.
Speaking on the bill, Dr Farooq Sattar of MQM said that all the agricultural land that was given to some blue-eyed people during the British Empire in the Sub-Continent should be divided equally among the peasants. He said that the state is the owner of the land and it should act swiftly to redistribute it among those that deserve it the best.
Sattar also said that democracy in the country cannot be strengthened without meaningful land reforms. "The electoral reforms will also be meaningless without the agricultural land reforms," he said, adding that democracy in a country can never be strengthened until level-playing field is given to all the citizens.
PPP member Syed Ghulam Mustafa said that the land reforms were introduced in the past and now there is no need for it because the large landholdings do not exist now in the country.
He said that business tycoons and people in cities have large commercial plazas and commercial land which should also be distributed among the poor living in the cities through the reforms. Mustafa termed the MQM's bill about agricultural land reforms a political stunt for garnering some support in the upcoming general elections. "The proposed reforms are neither viable nor will anybody allow them to be implemented," he said.
Responding to it, MQM member Abdul Rashid Godil agreed to the proposal of Ghulam Mustafa about reforms of the commercial properties like plazas and factories as well. "All those who evade taxes by investing in real estate should also be nabbed," he said, adding that state should take steps to provide equal opportunities to all citizens.
PPP member Shazia Marri, however, grilled the government by saying that it has done nothing to improve the condition of people working in industries and other sectors. She said the government should first focus on improving working conditions of labourers in the factories and other places before poking its nose in the issues like agricultural land reforms.
She said that agricultural growth has fallen during the period of current government due the regressive policies towards farmers. PTI member Asad Umar said that land reforms have been a hot topic since the period of General Ayub Khan, but the implementation still remains elusive. He said the federal government has got all the constitutional and legal powers to go ahead with the agricultural land reforms and it must take some viable steps to bring a positive change in lives of small farmers.
Apparently perplexed by the debate on the land reforms, PML-N member Shazadi Tiwana tried to point out the quorum twice but failed. Apparently annoyed by the ongoing discussions on the reforms, PTI dissident member from Swat Mussarat Ahmadzeb later pointed out the quorum and the speaker was left with no option but to adjourn the House due to low attendance of the members.
The matter of alleged lynching of a Christian schoolboy in Vehari district of the Punjab province last month also came under discussion in the House. Parliamentary Secretary for Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony Khalil George said that Sheron Masih was killed because he drank water in the same glass as the other boys did. George said that school curricula should be revised to reflect interfaith harmony.