Senate approves Nadra tenure extension: opposition tears apart papers

The government on Tuesday ignored protesting opposition and rushed through the Senate a bill designed to extend the tenure of National Database and Registration Authority's (Nadra) chairman beyond a four-year term.
The legislation that amends a 2000 ordinance also empowers the government to increase or decrease the number of authority's members according to requirements. Established seven years ago, Nadra is responsible to register and issue national identity cards (NIC) to the citizens of Pakistan.
The chairman to the authority is appointed for a four-year term. The opposition walked out of the House as soon as the bill was moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sher Afgan Khan Niazi.
Members tore apart papers and chanted "Go Musharraf Go." They did not come back till Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro prorogued the budget session. Opposition leader Raza Rabbani asked the government not to rush what he called an important legislation. But his voice was not heard.
The National Assembly has already passed the bill. It will become an act after President Pervez Musharraf approves it within 90 days. Earlier, a State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) report on the economic situation of the country during the first three quarters of current fiscal was laid before the House. The annual report of the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) for 2006 was also presented.