Islamabad, the 7th November, 2016: The Standing Committee on Law and Justice met today under the Chairmanship of Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk, MNA in the Parliament House, Islamabad to consider the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2015 (Insertion of new Article 19-B) (moved by Ms. Munaza Hassan, MNA), the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2016 [Amendment of Section 35-A, Act V of 1908] (Moved by Ms. Shahida Rehmani, MNA), the Islamabad High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2016 (Moved by Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan, MNA) and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2016 [Amendment of Article 77] (Moved by Mr. Sajid Ahmed, MNA).

The Committee considered the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2016 [Amendment of Article 77] (Moved by Mr. Sajid Ahmed, MNA) in detail. Mr. Sajid Ahmed, MNA was of the view that the delegating powers for the issuance of SROs might be withdrawn to avoid excessive taxation and to facilitate the public. The Committee also considered the Islamabad High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2016 (Moved by Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan, MNA). The mover was of the view that one fourth of the total number of the Judges of the Islamabad High Court should be women to encourage gender equality in the country. The Committee emphasized that the strict merit might be observed in all the spheres of life and there should be no discrimination. The Committee recommended that the above mentioned Bill might not be further processed for further legislation.

The meeting was attended by MNAs Justice (Retd.) Ifitkhar Ahmad Cheema, Sardar Muhammad Amjad Farooq Khan Khosa, Ms. Kiran Haider, Ms. Asiya Naz Tanoli, Mr. Rajab Ali Khan Baloch, Ms. Shagufta Jumani and Mr. S.A Iqbal Quadri. The Movers of the Bills Ms. Shahida Rehmani, Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan and Mr. Sajid Ahmed were also present in the meeting.