ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Law and Justice on Monday approved three bills moved by the government.

The committee, which met at Parliament House with MNA Riaz Fatyana in the chair, approved The Letters of Administration and Succession Certificate Bill 2019 (section 4), The Enforcement of Women’s Property Rights Bill 2019 (section 7) and the Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission Bill 2019.

The committee recommended that all the bills may be passed by the National Assembly. However, MNA Aliya Kamran submitted a dissent note in the whistleblower protection bill.

The succession certificate bill is aimed at simplifying the process of issuing succession certificates within the Islamabad capital territory.

The body recommended passing of bills on administration and succession certificate, women’s property rights and whistleblower protection commission

The bill is aimed at providing a simple mechanism in order to address difficulties faced by citizens in obtaining succession certificates and declaring family trees.

At present, civil judges issue succession certificates and the process takes months to complete as they are preoccupied with adjudicating other legal suits.

The proposed bill would empower the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to issue the certificate to legal heirs following the death of any person.

The women property rights bill is aimed at helping women in getting their due right of property ownership.

The statement of object and reason of the bill said the Constitution gives due respect to women in society and guarantees their right of ownership.

“However, the rights of ownership of women in inheritance are violated usually by their family members by means of coercion, fraud, fabrication, forgery and cheating, etc.,” read the proposed bill.

It added: “It is therefore necessary to provide an effective and speedy redressal mechanism to protect and secure the rights of ownership of women in property.”

The proposed bill said women could file a complaint with the ombudsperson if court of law does not proceed for speedy redressal of their complaints.

After completing legal formalities when the ombudsperson announces the decision, the deputy commissioner concerned will submit the compliance report within seven days.

Under the whistleblower protection bill, a commission will be set up to facilitate a mechanism for whistleblower information relating to corruption and protecting whistleblowers from disadvantageous measures, and to give them rewards.

The bill said if the recovery was made on the basis of the information provided by the whistleblower, they would be provided 20pc of the recovered amount.

If the whistleblower provided false and fabricated information, legal action would be taken against them.

Earlier, the committee after a brief discussion deferred “The Muslim Family Laws (Amendment) Bill 2019 (Section 4)”and “The Muslim Family Laws (Amendment) Bill 2019 (Section 7) till the next meeting.

The committee also deferred the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2019 (Amendment in Article 1, 51, 59, 106, 154, 175A, 198 and 218) moved by Rana Sanaullah Khan.

The committee also considered “The Legal Practitioner and Bar Councils (Amendment) Bill 2018 moved by MNA Aliya Kamran and deferred it till its next meeting when Pakistan Bar Council, all provincial bar councils and Islamabad Bar Council would be invited.

The committee also considered the agenda “discussion on establishment of divisional benches of Lahore High Court and recommended that benches may be established at Faisalabad, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Sahiwal and D.G. Khan.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2019