National Assembly Adopts Resolution against Blasphemous Caricatures ISLAMABAD, January 15, 2015: The National Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution against blasphemous caricatures published by a French magazine during the 12th sitting of its ongoing 17th session on Thursday. Four reports were presented during the sitting. The Chairman Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat presented two reports on the Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013 and the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill 2013. Similarly, Chairman Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research presented the report on the Seed (Amendment) Bill 2014. Additionally, the Parliamentary Secretary for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization laid the report on the First Biannual Monitoring on the Implementation of NFC Award (July-December, 2013). Meanwhile, a resolution tabled by a PML-N lawmaker seeking extension in Gas Infrastructure Development Cess Ordinance 2014 for 120 days with effect from January 22, 2015 was deferred by the House. Following are some key observations of the House proceedings: Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings The National Assembly met for three hours and six minutes. The sitting started at 1115 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours. The Deputy Speaker chaired the entire sitting as the Speaker was absent. The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting while the Opposition Leader was present for 97 minutes. Fifty-one lawmakers (15%) were present at the start of the sitting and 64 (19%) at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 167 members (49%) were present at one point of the sitting. The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, QWP, AMLP, PML-Z, PML and APML were present. Eight minority members attended the sitting. Twenty-six lawmakers applied for leave. Output The National Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution tabled by the Railways Minister against blasphemous caricature published by a French magazine on Wednesday. Another resolution seeking extension in Gas Infrastructure Development Cess Ordinance 2014 for 120 days with effect from January 22, 2015 was deferred by the House. Six lawmakers – two belonging to PPPP and one each from PkMAP, PML-N, MQM and QWP – spoke on the resolution for 20 minutes. The Chairman Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat presented two reports on the Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013 and the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill 2013. The Chairman Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research presented the report on the Seed (Amendment) Bill 2014. The Parliamentary Secretary for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization laid the report on the First Biannual Monitoring on the Implementation of NFC Award (July-December, 2013).
Posted on: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 19:41:37 +0000
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