November 01, 2007	Thursday	Shawwal 19, 1428

PESHAWAR, Oct 31: The now-defunct NWFP assembly during its term passed a total of 55 bills, including the much-debated Hasba Bill, which prompted the federal government to block its enactment through the Supreme Court.

The Hasba Bill, which was passed twice, had been challenged by the federal government on the grounds that it was unconstitutional and against fundamental rights. The apex court directed the NWFP governor not to enforce the bill.

The bill sought the appointment of ombudsmen at the district level to promote virtue and prevent vice in society.

Another controversial legislation called the NWFP Sharia Bill was passed by the MMA-led government. It was based on Objective Resolution and recommendations by the Council of Islamic Ideology, promising protection of personal laws and religious freedom for all minority groups.

According to the assembly secretariat, out of 55 bills passed by the house, 38 were aimed at amending the existing laws.The then Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani had on Oct 8 advised the governor to dissolve the NWFP Assembly after Speaker Bakht Jehan Khan tendered resignation before adjourning the session sine die. The assembly was to complete its five-year term on Nov 10.

Political analysts said the purpose of Hisba and Sharia bills moved by the MMA government was to gain political mileage and the religious alliance was least interested in implementing the Islamic laws. “The assembly passed the Sharia Bill in 2003 only for political gains,” said an analyst.

He said the assembly had passed the NWFP Prohibition of Kite Flying Activities Act, 2006, but it did not benefit the public. It was a futile exercise and wastage of public resources because so far not a single case had been registered across the province under the law, he added.

Apart from legislation, secretariat sources said, the assembly had passed a total of 963 resolutions relating to public interests. Of these, 354 had been passed unanimously, 58 with majority, 48 lapsed and only eight were referred to the committees concerned.Lawmakers from the treasury and opposition benches tabled 2,005 questions, of which 1,124 were forwarded to the house. The ministers concerned replied only to 649 questions while 436 lapsed. The house referred 39 questions to standing committees.

The analysts said that the question-answer session was considered to be the most important tool of parliamentarians as it enabled them to bring to light abuses and public grievances and subsequently press the government to take remedial measures.

“Most of the questions lapsed or remained unanswered because the ministers concerned were unprepared to give satisfactory answers,” said an official of the assembly secretariat.

The lawmakers moved 817 adjournment motions, 291 privilege motions and 1,442 calling-attention notices, according to a report prepared by the secretariat.

The report said that out of 817 adjournment motions, 135 had been discussed, 244 had not been admitted, four were converted into resolutions and 324 lapsed.

Similarly, out of 291 privilege motions, 47 were referred to the committees concerned and 135 lapsed.