Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Article 179): NA body decides to seek opinion of provinces

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Law and Justice on Wednesday decided to seek the opinion of all four provinces on “the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Article 179)”.

The meeting of the Standing Committee on Law and Justice was held under the chairmanship of Riaz Fatyana, here on Wednesday.

The committee took “The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Article 179)” moved by Amjad Ali Khan, MNA.

After detailed deliberations, the Committee deferred the bill till its next meeting with observation that the opinion of all the four provinces be obtained to proceed further in the matter.

The panel also discussed, “The National Accountability (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Ordinance No XXVII of 2019) (Government Bill)”.

The Committee deferred the same at the request of the ministry till its next meeting.

The Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission, Ordinance No XXIII of 2019 (Government Bill) was also discussed.

After detailed deliberations the ministry withdrew the same.

The International Court of Justice (Review and Re-consideration) Ordinance No VI of 2020 (Government Bill) was also discussed, and after detailed deliberation, the Committee recommended with a majority that the bill may be passed by the Assembly.

The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Article 140B) moved by Kishwer Zehra, MNA, was also taken and after detailed deliberations, the Committee deferred the same till its next meeting.

The parliamentary panel also took “the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Amendment in Third Schedule) moved by Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha, MNA.

After detailed deliberation, the Committee recommended with a majority that the bill may not be passed by the assembly.

The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Amendment in Article 251) and “The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Amendment in Article 25A)” moved by Kesoo Mal Kheeal Das, MNA; the Committee deferred the same till its next meeting due to non-availability of mover.

The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Amendment in Article 51) moved by Junaid Akbar, MNA; after detailed deliberation, the Committee deferred the same till its next meeting.

Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Amendment in Section 5) moved by Dr Nafisa Shah, MNA; due to paucity of time the Committee did not consider the same and deferred till its next meeting.

The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Article 140A) moved by Syed Javed Husnain, MNA; after deliberations, the Committee deferred the same till its next meeting.

Members/MNAs/movers Lal Chand, Muhammad Farooq Azam Malik, Kishwer Zehra, Maleeka Ali Bokhari, Muhammad Sana Ullah Khan Masti Khel, Malik Muhammad Ehsan Ullah Tiwana, Sher Ali Arbab, Shunila Ruth, Chaudhry Mehmood Bashir Virk, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Mohsin Nawaz Ranja, Syed Hussain Tariq, Dr Nafisa Shah, Syed Naveed Qamar, Aliya Kamran, Amjad Ali Khan, Javed Husnain, Junaid Akbar and Minister for Law and Justice besides the secretary Ministry of Law and Justice along with their staff, attended the meeting.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020