NWFP Assembly demands cut in Haj fares

The NWFP legislature on Thursday passed a unanimous resolution demanding of the federal government for reduction in Haj fares to enable a large number to avail the chance of performing the religious obligation. The assembly also passed more five resolutions.
Presenting the resolution the MMA women MPA, Riffat Jabeen contended that Haj is among the five religious obligations. But the persistent increase in the fares every year has become hurdle in their way and preventing millions of faithful from performing this important religious obligation.
She demanded of the federal government to take measures for reducing the Haj fares for next year to enable maximum number of faith to perform their religious obligation. The Speaker Bakth Jehan Khan put the resolution to vote and the House adopted it unanimously.
The House through another resolution tabled by Syed Zahir Ali Shah of PPP-Parliamentarian demanded of the provincial government to establish Water and Sanitation Authority (Wasa) on the pattern of Punjab for improving drainage system in the city. He said the standing water in the congested populated areas in Gunj, Yakatoot, Gulbahar, Sheikhabad and other localities of the city has threatened a number of houses and commercial buildings.
He demanded of the provincial government to established Wasa for suggesting and taking measures for improving sanitation and drainage system in city.
In response to the resolution the Provincial Minister for Local Government, Sardar Mohammad Idrees informed the House that the CDMD had sent feasibility to chief minister for setting up Wasa, which would solve the problem. The House adopted the resolution unanimously.
Syed Qalb-e-Hasan, an ANP turncoat through a resolution demanded of the federal government to supply gas to various localities of Kohat city including Ghari Risaldar, Dohda road, Mian Gul Colony, Noor Alahi Colony, Mohammadzai, Nusrutkhel, Mairozai college town, which was unanimously adopted by the House.
Naeema Akhtar, another MMA woman MPA through her resolution demanded VIP passports for the members of the provincial assembly, which was unanimously passed.
Meanwhile, the proceedings of NWFP Assembly witnessed rumpus on raising the passage of Women Protection Bill (WPB) by lower House by MMA women MPA Zubaida Khatoon.
Zubaida Khatoon raised the matter while speaking on a point of order informing the provincial assembly that the National Assembly had passed Women Protection Bill and termed it not only unconstitutional but also anti-Islamic.
She said that the constitution has made National Assembly bound not to pass any law against the spirit of Quraan and Sunnah. She expressed the fear that amendments in Hudood ordinance would pave way for promotion of the culture vulgarity and obscenity in the country.
The women legislator accused federal government of deceiving the religio-political alliance MMAS and ulema by not including the recommendations of the ulema committee in the bill. She said the government had usurped the rights of the women through the passage of non-Islamic bill.
She was responded by Rafit Akbar Swati of PPP-Sherpao, who while taking floor said that the Women Protection Bill (WPB) was not against Quraan and Sunnah. She said that if the bill was non-Islamic, then the MMA parliamentarians should resign as announced by them. She was of the view that provincial assembly could not discuss the legislation made by the National Assembly.
Both women MPAs Zubaida Khatoon and Akbar Swati were speaking at a time creating commotion in the House. Zubaida Khatoon was recalling the pledge of PML (Q) president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain that he would resign from the membership of National Assembly in case of the bill was proved against Quraan and Sunnah. She said as the ulema committee, which also included pro-government ulema, had declared the bill as non-Islamic, therefore, Shujaat Hussain should tender resignation from parliament.
Maulana Amanat Shah of MMA supported his women colleague and termed the Women Protection Bill as non-Islamic, saying the amendments in Hudood Laws would spread vulgarity and obscenity in the society.
Bashir Ahmad Bilour, parliamentary leader of ANP also demanded of the MMA parliamentarians to resign in protest against the passage of non-Islamic Women Protection Bill.
Maulana Amanat Shah said that the MMA MNAs had handed over their resignations to their leadership and they did not hesitate from quitting parliament. However, he added, the opposition members would also go home along with them.
Other lawmakers started hooting during Maulana Amanat Shah and Bashir Bilour's speeches and the House was turned into a fish market. However, the speaker without giving any ruling over discussion on the bill, proceeded with the agenda of the day.