PTI MNAs introduce bill for South Punjab province

ISLAMABAD: The parliamentarians from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday introduced the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 as private member bill seeking creation of the South Punjab province.

The House with majority voice under rule 288 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007 allowed that the requirements of rules 53 and 118 of the said Rules in respect of ballot and ten-day notice period be dispensed with in order to introduce the private member bill.

The PTI members Makhdoom Syed Samiul Hassan Gillani and Sardar Nasarullah Khan Dareshak introduced the private member bill seeking amendments to Article 1, 51, 59, 106, 175A, 198 and 298 of the Constitution.

The amendment bill proposes that the province of South Punjab shall comprise territories of Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions having own provincial assembly and the high court. The PML-N opposed introduction of the amendment bill in a haste while relaxing concerned rules of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the House.

“The government members while moving bill in this way wanted to take the credit while two similar bills had already been referred to the standing committee concerned,” PML-N member Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said.

He said the PML-N was also in support of creation of new provinces like Janubi Punjab but immediately the PTI government had given preference to this bill over the constitutional amendment seeking increase in National Assembly and provincial assembly seats for Fata.

Raja Pervaiz Ashraf of the PPP said that it was his party’s government, which took initiative for creation of Janubi Punjab province.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued by the PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurengzeb said the party was in favour of new provinces saying that stand of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on the Monday’s bill for creation of South Punjab, was being taken in the wrong context.

“It was not proper to move yet another bill when two similar bills are already pending with the standing committee,” she said. She said the government did not respond to their cooperation for last many months but now it wanted to take credit by such amendment bill.

Meanwhile, Minister for Housing Chaudhry Tariq Bashir Cheema introduced the Naya Pakistan Housing Authority Bill, 2019 and the Recovery of Mortgage-backed Securities Bill, 2019].

The Naya Pakistan Authority will coordinate with all relevant ministries, provincial governments, relevant development regulatory bodies and other stakeholders to accomplish task of Naya Pakistan housing scheme, upgradation and regularisation of katchi abadis.

It will also establish transparent criteria for registration, membership, possession, transfer and cancellation of housing units under Naya Pakstan Housing programme.