He shared this information during the deliberations of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting here at the PTV Headquarters. The secretary said there was no need for obtaining an NoC from anywhere with regards to the proposed piece of legislation.

The matter was raised by Senator Farhatullah Babar and wondered why not it was taken up by the government as already 60 mandatory days had already passed. Babar said they had learnt that a ministry was impeding forward the movement of the initiative and had asked for not pursuing the proposed law as it was opposed to a particular part of it.

He urged the government to take particular care of the bill as the Senate committee had expressed no objection to it being tabled as a government bill.

The News

The Right to Information bill carried two amendments that differentiate it from the original act. Clause Five of the bill maintained: “Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, any information mentioned in subsection (1) may be disclosed by the Public information officer if the information is 50 years old but commission, in an appropriate case, extend this time period of 50 years to a further 20 years.”

Second, “where a public information officer or any other person has, without any reasonable cause, refused to receive an application, has not furnished information within time limits, or denied the request with mala fide or knowingly gave incorrect, incomplete or misleading information, the commission may, after providing sufficient opportunity of defense to the public information officer, direct the public information officer to pay fine not exceeding two days salary for each day of delay or to pay fine which may extend to fifty thousands (50,000) rupees.”

The assembly also passed Lahore Development Authority (amendment) Bill 2013, aimed at establishing a comprehensive system of metropolitan planning and development in order to improve the quality of life in the area of Lahore division and establish an integrated metropolitan and regional development authority.

The bill would also help evolve policies and plans relating to improving housing, industrial development, traffic, transportation, education, health, water supply, sewerage, drainage, solid waste disposal and other allied matters.

The Punjab Commission on Status of Women Bill 2013 was also on the agenda, which as per the bill, was aimed at empowering women, expansion of opportunities for their socio-economic growth and elimination of all forms of discrimination against them.

Other bills that were passed included the Punjab Weight and Measure (international system) Enforcement (amendment) Bill, the Punjab Workmen’s Compensation (amendment) Bill and the Employees’ Cost of Living (Relief) (amendment) Bill.

The four bills that were deferred till Friday sitting, which was called at 9am, included The Punjab Commission on Status of Women Bill, the Punjab Shops and Establishments (amendment) Bill, the Punjab Minimum Wages for Unskilled Workers (amendment) Bill and the Punjab Payment of Wages (amendment) Bill.

Earlier, the Opposition tried to force the House to take motion pertaining to stoppage of gas to the industry and the CNG sector out of turn, but in vain. Some speakers from the opposition, including Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed, pleaded the chair to suspend the routine business and discuss the impact of the stoppage, which according to them runs into billions of rupees and will result in unemployment of hundreds of thousands of people. However, the speaker, citing rules of business, asked the Opposition to go to the Business Advisory Committee of the House to get the motion included in the discussion.

DAWN

The minister said this in a letter written to PBA Chairman M Aslam Kazi and APNS President Sarmad Ali on Friday.

The letter read, “Even at this stage when the Bill has already been moved in the Senate, we would like to know and understand your perspective in the matter. Please forward your recommendations with regard to the Bill, to us, in writing or a meeting can be arranged at the earliest with the representatives of APNS and PBA to further discuss your proposals.”

The minister assured that these recommendations will then be brought up during discussions in the Senate. “It is right of people to have correct information in order to keep check on the performance of the executive machinery,” he added. He said that as committed in the manifesto, the government of PML-N believes in transparency and sharing information with the general public in a way it happens in any democratic society and in accordance with provisions of the constitution.

The letter said, “We appreciate the interest of APNS and PBA over the draft Right to Information Bill. However, we have learnt your concerns about the Bill through an advertisement placed recently in both print and electronic media which apparently was sponsored by APNS and PBA.”

The letter further said APNS and PBA are well aware that the draft bill, which has now been tabled in the Senate, passed through various stages over a period of time and it was also reported in the national press several times during the process of its formulation. Initially, the bill was discussed in the Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting headed by Senator Kamil Ali Agha and comprising senators of all major political parties in the Senate, the letter read.

“It was then referred to the sub-committee with Senator Farhatullah Babar as convener to consider and scrutinise all aspects of the draft bill. The sub-committee held extensive meetings with relevant government and non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders including media representatives for preparation of the report. Their valuable inputs were incorporated in the draft bill. It was after thorough deliberations by all stakeholders that the bill, in its present form, was recommended by the Standing Committee. The committee has unanimously approved the bill.”

After detailed discussion, it said, the committee decided that the recommendation of the standing committee may be moved in the House under Rule-195 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012 and with the request of the House to adopt the recommendation of standing committee under Rule 196 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate 2012.

Thereafter, it added, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting with the approval of the cabinet will introduce the recommendation of the standing committee as an official bill.

Daily Times

The minister said this in a letter written to PBA Chairman M Aslam Kazi and APNS President Sarmad Ali on Friday.

The letter read, “Even at this stage when the Bill has already been moved in the Senate, we would like to know and understand your perspective in the matter. Please forward your recommendations with regard to the Bill, to us, in writing or a meeting can be arranged at the earliest with the representatives of APNS and PBA to further discuss your proposals.”

The minister assured that these recommendations will then be brought up during discussions in the Senate. “It is right of people to have correct information in order to keep check on the performance of the executive machinery,” he added. He said that as committed in the manifesto, the government of PML-N believes in transparency and sharing information with the general public in a way it happens in any democratic society and in accordance with provisions of the constitution.

The letter said, “We appreciate the interest of APNS and PBA over the draft Right to Information Bill. However, we have learnt your concerns about the Bill through an advertisement placed recently in both print and electronic media which apparently was sponsored by APNS and PBA.”

The letter further said APNS and PBA are well aware that the draft bill, which has now been tabled in the Senate, passed through various stages over a period of time and it was also reported in the national press several times during the process of its formulation. Initially, the bill was discussed in the Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting headed by Senator Kamil Ali Agha and comprising senators of all major political parties in the Senate, the letter read.

“It was then referred to the sub-committee with Senator Farhatullah Babar as convener to consider and scrutinise all aspects of the draft bill. The sub-committee held extensive meetings with relevant government and non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders including media representatives for preparation of the report. Their valuable inputs were incorporated in the draft bill. It was after thorough deliberations by all stakeholders that the bill, in its present form, was recommended by the Standing Committee. The committee has unanimously approved the bill.”

After detailed discussion, it said, the committee decided that the recommendation of the standing committee may be moved in the House under Rule-195 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012 and with the request of the House to adopt the recommendation of standing committee under Rule 196 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate 2012.

Thereafter, it added, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting with the approval of the cabinet will introduce the recommendation of the standing committee as an official bill.

Daily Times

Soon after the recitation from the Holy Quran, newly elected members, including Ahmad Khan Behadar, Jamshid Mohmand from Mardan, Shah Faisal from Hangu and Azam Khan Durrani from Bannu administered oath.

Amid tight security arrangements, the KPK Assembly met with Speaker Asad Qaiser in the chair. The KPK Minister for Information Shah Farman move ‘Right to Information Bill’, if it is passed from the provincial assembly would facilitate the general public and media to get information about provincial government departments.

The opposition benches, including Pakistan PML-N, JUI-F, ANP and PPP lawmakers walked out from the assembly session against not honouring the commitment made by the government with them about DDAC. “The government had assured the opposition about the appointment of their members as chairmen DDAC but they have so far neither been consulted nor taken them into confidence,” PML-N MPA Manawar Khan Marwat said while raising the issue.

They, however, ended their boycott on the request of provincial ministers Yousaf Ayub, Shah Farman Khan, Israrullaha Khan Gandapur and Yaseen Khalil. Meanwhile, KPK Information Minister Shah Farman assured the House that they would take up the issue with the chief minister.

Speaker Asad Qaisar kept the adjournment motion of Qaimous Khan pending till the arrival of minister for health. Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Israrullah Khan Gandapur, who was responding on behalf of the ministers, advised the chair to keep the motion pending till the arrival of minister because they did not want politics on this sensitive issue.

MPA Qaimous Khan observed that the dengue virus had affected thousands of people in Swat and victims were facing problems in hospital due to lack of proper arrangements and facilities.

Similarly, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP)’s Anisa Zeb apprised the House about growing threats of dengue virus. Expressing concern over the ongoing arrangements by government, she said it needs seriousness instead of cosmetic steps.

Taking notice of the absence of minister health and officers in gallery, she directed other members of the cabinet to prepare a list of the absent secretaries so that action could be taken against them with the consultation of the chief minister.

Through a call attention notice, PML-N’s Sardar Aurangzeb Nalota told the House about the recent devastating floods destroying 60 per cent roads in his district, corps and others buildings. The lack of maintenance and repair funds was multiplying miseries of the people.

The ANP’s Sardar Hussain Babak said the government should have provided funds to the DCs for such emergencies like situation. Ushar Zakat Minister Habibur Rehman said that he himself had visited the site but Babak had constructed the Bacha Khan Model School at the bank of canal. This infuriated Babak, saying the ministers should have responded positively instead of criticising him. He said the site had been selected after proper procedure of various government departments.

The PPP Salim Khan urged the government to take practical steps for improving damaged irrigation and communication system in Chitral district.

The PTI’s Yaseen Khalil said that his government has provided Rs.5 million to each DC for immediate relief of the affected people in such emergencies.

He said it was the responsibility of the concerned DCs to provide them the list and the members should also cooperate with them so that problems could immediately be resolved. The ANP’s Jaffar Shah and JUI-F Mufti Janan, PML-N’s Manawar Khan raised the problems of their respective districts complaining against the lack of various facilities.

The Nation