PA passes two bills

LAHORE
Punjab Assembly Thursday passed two bills including Parks and Horticulture (Amendment) Bill and Punjab Strategic Coordination (Amendment) Bill 2015 after all the objections raised by the opposition were rejected.
The bills were moved by Law Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, however, the treasury was unable to pass the third bill on agenda after it failed to meet quorum pointed out by opposition member Amir Sultan Cheema.
According to the Punjab Strategic Coordination (Amendment) Bill 2015, the Provincial Security Council, which came into existence last year, will comprise the CM as its Chairman, Home minister, will serve as its vice-chairman and it will also include chief secretary, Home secretary, secretary of the Home Department, provincial police office, three members to be nominated by the government and director general.
According to the latest amendment, the Provincial Security Council will also include two members of Punjab Assembly who are nominated by the government.
The opposition members including PPP Parliamentary leader Qazi Ahmed Saeed, JI Parliamentary leader Dr Wasim Akhter and PML-Q legislator Amir Sultan Cheema, rejecting the bill stated that only speaker of the elected House must have the authority to nominate any MPA in the body. They held the view that the government shouldn’t handle the security issue carelessly and pay due focus on it as Punjab had suffered massively in the hands of terrorists. Amir Sultan Cheema, while debating over the bill, said the suicide attack at Police Lines was an attack on security personnel who had rendered great sacrifices. He said: “Our armed forces were busy countering terrorism and the PML-N government should also take all measures on merit and pay attention to security for the citizens. The opposition members on the occasion criticised the government for prioritising the security of PML-N leaders, but ignoring the nation.
Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, responding to criticism by PML-Q MPA Amir Sultan Cheema, stated that the country was pushed to face terrorism in the era of Pervez Musharraf. He said there were many including Amir Sultan Cheema who had pledged to re-elect the dictator in uniform ten times. Responding to these remarks, Amir Sultan Cheema on a point of self explanation asked chair to clarify his position but Deputy Speaker Sher Gorchani asked both the members to merely focus on the agenda of the House.
The other bill passed included Park and Horticulture Authority (Amendment) Bill 2015. According to the bill, Divisional Commissioners will be included in the Board of Directors of Parks and Horticulture Authority to facilitate the field staff through better coordination of the district and provincial departments.
The opposition members and Khadija Umer Farooqi and Waqas Moakkel raised objections to the bill and urged the government to improve its performance first rather than increasing the size of its bodies for no reason.
Khadija Umer, while participating in the debate, said the authorities concerned had failed to beautify the provincial capital of Punjab and now the government only to accommodate some officials of its choice wanted amendment in the bill.
She said the government bodies were run through public money and people had the authority to decide regarding their money, adding detailed discussion was needed before passing this bill.
The objections, however, were rejected by treasury and bill was passed with majority of votes.
Meanwhile, Amir Sultan Cheema of PML-Q pointed out the quorum which was found incomplete and proceedings were adjourned till Friday.