14 January 2005	Friday	03 Zilhaj 1425

PESHAWAR, Jan 13: The NWFP Assembly on Thursday rejected a bill tabled by Deputy Speaker Ikramullah Shahid, seeking structural changes in the Shariat Bill.

Mr Shahid, a deputy of Maulana Samiul Haq, wanted to introduce some amendments into the Shariat Bill, 2004, to increase its transparency on certain issues, but Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Mohammad Ayaz Khan opposed it.

He said that there was no need to introduce any amendment into a bill drafted and agreed upon by ulemas of different schools of thought and passed unanimously by the assembly. He said it was 'a decided matter', which was in different stages of its implementation.

Speaker Bakht Jehan Khan, who was presiding over the session, sought voting on the bill and the house rejected it with a majority vote. The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal lawmakers made it (the bill) a point of honour, as it was tabled by a critic of the MMA.

Later, deputy speaker laid the NWFP Provincial Assembly (Powers, Immunities and Privileges) (Amendment) Bill, 2004, for its consideration. Earlier, Abdul Akbar Khan of the People's Party Parliamentarians tabled an adjournment motion towards the plight of sugarcane growers, who were constrained to sell their crop at throwaway prices to sugar mills.

He said that the ban imposed on the export of 'gur' to Afghanistan had also added to the miseries of the farmers. Food Minister Fazal Rabbani endorsed the stand of the mover and asked him to sort the matter out with him (Mr Rabbani).

The house referred an adjournment motion to the standing committee on excise and taxation to investigate the matter about issuance of computerized registration numbers to smuggled vehicles allegedly by the excise department in Lower Dir district.

Senior Minister Sirajul Haq said that the treasury benches had no objection if the question was referred to the committee concerned for a detailed investigation. The speaker directed the committee to submit a report in two weeks.

Minister for Excise and Taxation Fazal Rabbani informed the House that 314 vehicles had been issued computerised numbers and that the road cess generated from sugar mills would be spent on the construction of main roads by the Frontier Highways Authority.