August 15, 2007	Wednesday	Sha’aban 1, 1428

ISLAMABAD Aug 14: The Leader of opposition in the Senate, Mian Raza Rabbani, on Monday tabled a private bill in the upper house seeking declaration of assets and liabilities by civil, military and judicial officers of grade 20 and above.

The purpose of the bill is to ensure across-the-board transparency and extension of the existing act whereby public representatives have to submit each year statements of their assets and liabilities, failing which their membership stands suspended till the statements are filed.

With the passage of the bill, persons in the service of Pakistan will also be required to declare their assets and liabilities by October 10 each year.

Mr Rabbani introduced another bill seeking to further amend the Exit from Pakistan (Control) Ordinance-1981 to end its conflict with the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.

Its objects and reasons say that provisions of the Exit from Pakistan Ordinance-1981 are in conflict with the fundamental rights conferred by the Constitution and the amendments proposed would bring them in harmony with the Constitution on the basis of observations of the superior courts in several cases.

Mr Rabbani’s third bill seeks to further amend the Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Act, 1956 requiring the commission to provide certified copy of its final or interim report or orders made during or after conclusion of proceedings for the purpose of inquiry for which the commission is formed on payment of such costs and charges as the commission may determine.

PML’s Anwar Bhinder has introduced a bill for setting up the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (The Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Service Bill, 2007).

Dr Firdaus of the MMA has introduced a bill for patronage and welfare of dependents (poor relatives) (The Patronage and Welfare of Dependents (Poor Relatives) Bill, 2005).Another bill introduced by Mr Anwar Bhinder seeks to amend the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.