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| 19 July 2004 | Monday | 01 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425 |
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NA likely to amend PPO today
ISLAMABAD July 18: The National Assembly appears set to pass on Monday a bill seeking to amend the Political Parties Order, 2002, to allow holders of elected public offices to also occupy political parties' posts.
The Political Parties (Amendment) Bill, introduced in the lower house on Friday amid opposition protests, was approved by the standing committee on law, justice and human rights on Friday.
The bill seeks to omit article 9 of the PPO that bars holders of public offices from holding party offices. It will be the fourth item on the day's agenda after the question hour, a call-attention notice and introduction of a bill on contempt of court.
Rai Mansab Ali Khan, chairman of the house committee on law, justice and human rights, would table the bill under rules 10-5(2) of the rules of business and the minister of state for law and parliamentary affairs would move it for debate for immediate disposal in the house scheduled to meet at 10am.
Dr Sher Afgan Niazi, PPP (Patriot) MNA and a member of the committee, said that in his opinion there would be no hurdle in the smooth passage of the amendment. While the treasury members, being in majority, supported the bill, the opposition including members from the ARD and the MMA, wrote their dissenting notes.
They alleged that the amendment was being sought to facilitate Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to run the campaign of Senior Minister and prime ministerial hopeful Shaukat Aziz for the bye-election to two National Assembly seats set for August 18.
However, the treasury members termed the amendment within the precincts of constitutional provisions and recommended its immediate passage by parliament. After its passage by the National Assembly, the bill will be tabled in the Senate, which is also in session, for an urgent approval.
As a result of the PPO, 2002, introduced as chief executive's order No.18, former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali had resigned as PML-Q secretary-general before his election as prime minister in November, 2002. The amendment will enable Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to retain both the offices of prime minister and party president.
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