Punjab PA introduces amendment bill on child marriages

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on its private members day passed three resolutions and also introduced the Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill 2015.
The bill was introduced by Khurram Jehangir Wattoo, the PPP MPA, who is also the son of former chief minister Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo. Besides, the house passed resolutions including the one urging bureaucrats and assembly members to teach their children in public educational institutions.
The resolution was moved by Sheikh Ejaz, the PML-N legislator, elected from Faisalabad.Speaking on the floor of the house, Sheikh Ejaz stated that he had moved the resolution after leading by example as he himself got his two sons, Shahroz Ejaz and Ali Hyder admitted to a government school.
He said he had to convince his family before taking the decision and stated that to end the prevailing sense of deprivation and bridge the gap of haves and have-nots, all of MPs, who could afford educating their children in private institutions, must take the initiative.
He said if the senior officials and members of the parliament would prefer public school or institutions for the education of their children, a very positive message would be sent to the people who could not afford to educate their children like affluent persons.
The resolution was passed. The second resolution, moved by Ahmed Shah Khagga, the PML-Q legislator, calling for stern punishment and fine for the persons behind the road accidents, was also passed unanimously by the house.
The resolution which came under heated debate in the PA was the one moved by the JI parliamentary leader Dr Waseem Akhtar, supporting tax on import of agricultural products from India.
In the resolution, Dr Waseem submitted that the import of duty-free agricultural products from India was causing a huge loss to the growers and to curb it, there was a need to impose tax on it.
The resolution was opposed by Mian Naseer, who supported trade with all countries including India while holding the view that government could not afford keeping Pakistan in isolation. The PML-N MPA, elected from Lahore for the second term, also had a brief argument with Provincial Minister Khalil Tahir Sindhu, who asked his colleague to show some ‘manners’ in the house.
Mian Naseer, on the occasion, urged the minister not to oppose anything which clashed with the interest of the country.Besides, Ahmed Ali Malik, a PML-N MPA, who hails from Kasur, also urged the speaker that PA had powers to hold legislation instead of passing a resolution, which was nothing but a ‘recommendatory force’.
The resolution, however, was passed with a majority vote. Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Sher Ali Gorchani also announced that foundation stone of a Masjid on the PA premises would be laid in a couple of days. He also urged members to donate for the purpose as the project needed financial support.
Mian Tahir, a PML-N MPA from Faisalabad, on the occasion announced Rs 100,000 donation for the Masjid. Moreover, PML-N candidates for Senate Nihal Hashmi and Ghous Bakhsh Niazi also visited the PA and held meetings with party MPAs, who are to vote on March 5 in connection with the Senate polls.