سندھ اسمبلی کی کارکردگی پر رپورٹ جاری

کراچی، 29 ستمبر 2012ء (): فری اینڈ فیئر الیکشن نیٹ ورک (فافن) کی جانب سے جاری ہونے والی ایک رپورٹ کے مطابق نومبر 2011ء سے مئی 2012ء تک سندھ اسمبلی کے ہونے والے پانچ اجلاسوں میں تعلیم کے حوالے سے معاملات پر قانون سازی اور صحت کی تنصیبات تک رسائی کو بہتر بنانے اور اقلیتوں کو جبراً مذہب تبدیل کرنے مجبور کرنے کے خلاف مذمتی قرارداریں نمایاں رہیں۔

یہ رپورٹ فافن کے شریک ادارے پاکستان پریس فاؤنڈیشن (پی پی ایف) کی جانب سے اسمبلی کی کارروائی کے براہ راست مشاہدے پر مبنی ہے۔ فافن کے پارلیمنٹ واچ نے 2011ء کی دوسری ششماہی میں صوبائی اسمبلی کی کارروائیوں کا مشاہدہ کرنا شروع کیا۔

ان پانچ اجلاسوں کے دوران حزب اقتدار کی جانب سے 14 بل منظور کیے گئے، جن میں سے آٹھ موجودہ قوانین میں ترامیم کے حوالے سے تھے۔ ایوان نے اس عرصے میں نجی طور پر اراکین کی جانب سے پیش کردہ چار میں سے کوئی بل منظور نہیں کیا جن میں گھریلو تشدد سے تحفظ کا بل 2008ء بھی شامل ہے، جسے موخر کر دیا گیا۔ البتہ نجی طور پر اراکین کی جانب سے پیش کردہ دو بل: مذہبی اقلیتوں کے تحفظ کا بل 2012ء اور رجسٹریشن (سندھ ترمیمی) بل 2012ء اس عرصے کے دوران ایوان میں پیش کیے گئے۔

اساتذہ کی جانب سے مستقل ملازمتوں کے مطالبے اور انہیں اپنی تدریسی صلاحیتوں کو بہتر بنانے کےمواقع فراہم کرنے کے لیے سندھ ریگولرائزیشن آف ٹیچرز  آن کانٹریکٹ بیسز بل اور سندھ ٹیچرز ایجوکیشن ڈیولپمنٹ اتھارٹی بل 2012ء منظور کیے گئے۔ دو دیگر بلوں کی منظوری کے بعد انڈس انسٹیٹیوٹ آف ہائیر ایجوکیشن اور سندھ مدرسۃ الاسلام کو جامعات کا درجہ دیا گیا۔

رپورٹ کا کہناہے کہ وزیر اعلیٰ نے 110 گھنٹوں اور 46 منٹوں پر مشتمل 48 سیشنز میں سے 15 میں شرکت کی۔ اسپیکر نے 38 اور ڈپٹی اسپیکر نے 26 سیشنز کی صدارت کی۔ متحدہ قومی موومنٹ کے پارلیمانی رہنما نے تین کے سوا تمام سیشنز میں شرکت کی (جو تمام سیشنز کا 93 فیصد بنتا ہے) جس کے بعد پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی پارلیمنٹیرین اور عوامی نیشنل پارٹی کے رہنما آتے ہیں، جو 29، 29 سیشنز میں شریک رہے۔

168 اراکین پر مشتمل ایوان میں ایک چوتھائی اراکین کی موجود سے ہونے والے اجلاسوں میں، تاکہ کورم پورا ہو سکے، اراکین کی مجموعی حاضری اوسطاً ہر اجلاس کے آغاز پر صرف 46 اور اختتام پر 68 رہی۔

ایوان نے مختلف سیاسی و سماجی مسائل پر اراکین کی جانب سے پیش کردہ 48 میں سے 40 قرارداروں کو منظور کیا۔ ان میں دیگر قراردادوں کے ساتھ ساتھ وفاقی حکومت سے سابق وزیر اعظم بے نظیر بھٹو کے قتل کی رپورٹ شایع کرنے کے مطالبے کے علاوہ سندھ میں نئے صوبے کے مطالبے کے لیے کراچی میں کی گئی چاکنگ اور چسپاں پوسٹرز کی مذمتی قراردادیں بھی شامل تھیں۔ وفاقی حکومت اور عدلیہ کے درمیان این آر او فیصلے کے حوالے سے تناؤ کے باوجود قانون سازوں نے جمہوری سیٹ اپ پر اعتماد ظاہر کیا۔

ایوان نے اقلیتوں کی جبراً  تبدیلی مذہب پر مجبور کرنے کی بھی مذمت کی، اور ملک کی ترقی میں اُن کے حصے کو نمایاں کرنے کے لیے نصاب میں جگہ دینے کا مطالبہ کیا، اور “اچھی صحت” کو شہریوں کا “بنیادی حق” تسلیم اور سوات میں امن اور لڑکیوں کی تعلیم کے فروغ کی ضرورت پر زور دیا۔

گو کہ اراکین نے صحت، تعلیم اور خوراک کے حوالے سے اپنے حلقوں اور صوبائی مسائل پر 30 نجی تحاریک پیش کی لیکن ان میں سے کسی کو بھی بحث کے لیے منظور نہیں کیا گیا۔

ایجنڈے پر موجود 536 سوالات میں سے ایوان نے 278 پیش کیے۔ اضافی طور پر 1202 اضافی سوالات بھی پوچھے گئے۔ بیشتر سوالات وزارت ماہی گیری (36)، ورکس اینڈ سروسز (32)، آبپاشی (30) اور صنعت اور جیل خانہ جات (28، 28) کے حوالے سے رہے۔ خاتون اراکین اس حیثیت میں زیادہ متحرک رہیں جنہوں نے ایجنڈے میں 354 سوالات پیش کیے۔

پانچ اجلاسوں میں اراکین، 19 خواتین اور 58 مرد، نے 398 پوائنٹس آف آرڈر اٹھائے، جنہوں نے ان اجلاسوں کے کل وقت کا 15 فیصد حصہ یعنی 1018 منٹ صرف کیے۔

پی پی ایف کے بارے میں:

پاکستان پریس فاؤنڈیشن (پی پی ایف) ایک آزاد میڈیا ریسرچ،ڈاکیومنٹیشن اور ٹریننگ سینٹر ہے جو آزادئ صحافت کے فروغ اور دفاع کے لیے کام کر رہا ہے۔ پی پی ایف بین الاقوامی سطح پر ایک معتبر ادارہ تسلیم کیا گیا ہے جو صحافت کے معیارات کو بہتر بنانے اور آزادئ اظہار رائے کے دفاع کے لیے کام کر رہا ہے۔ پی پی ایف فافن کا تاسیسی رکن ہے۔

فافن کے بارے میں:

ٹرسٹ فار ڈیموکریٹک ایجوکیشن اینڈ اکاؤنٹیبلٹی (TDEA) کے زیر انتظام 2006ء میں قائم شدہ فری اینڈ فیئر الیکشن نیٹ ورک (فافن) پاکستان میں جمہوری ذمہ داریوں کی تمام اقسام کو مضبوط تر کرنے کے لیے 42 معروف سول سوسائٹی آرگنائزیشز کا اتحاد ہے۔

Report on performance of Sindh Assembly launched

KARACHI, September 29, 2012 : The five sessions of the Sindh Assembly held between November 2011 and May 2012 were marked by legislation on education-related issues, and resolutions for improving access to health facilities, and condemning forced conversions of minorities, says a report launched by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN)

The report is based on direct observation of the Assembly proceedings done by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), a FAFEN partner organization. FAFEN’s Parliament Watch started observing the proceedings of the provincial assemblies in the second half of 2011.

Out of the 14 government-backed bills passed during the five sessions, eight were amendments to existing laws.  The House did not pass any of the four private member’s bills during the reporting period including the Prevention of Domestic Violence Bill 2008, which was deferred. However two private members’ bills: the Protection of Religious Minorities Bill 2012 and the Registration (Sindh Amendment) Bill, 2012were introduced in the House during this period.

To address teachers’ demand for permanent jobs and to provide them with opportunities to improve their teaching skills, the Sindh Regularization of Teachers appointed on Contract Basis Bill and the Sindh Teachers Education Development Authority Bill 2012 were passed. Following the passage of two other bills, the Indus Institute of Higher Education and Sindh Madressat-ul-Islam were given the status of universities.

The report said the Chief Minister attended 15 of the 48 sittings which were spread over 110 hours and 46 minutes. The Speaker chaired 38 sittings and the Deputy Speaker presided over 26 sittings.MQM’s parliamentary leader attended all but three sittings (93% of all sittings), followed by the leaders of PPPP and ANP, who were present in 29 sittings each.

While at least one fourth of the 168 member House were present during these sessions on average, maintaining quorum, the  legislators’ overall attendance remained low as on average 46 members were present at the beginning and 68 at the end of eachsitting.

The House adopted 40 of the total 48 resolutions submitted by members regarding various political and social issues. Among others were resolutions urging thefederal government to publish the report on the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, as well as others condemning wall chalking and posters in Karachi demanding a new province inSindh. Amid the tussle between the federal government and judiciary over implementing the NRO verdict, the legislators expressed confidence in the democratic setup.

The House also condemned forced conversions of minorities, called for highlighting their contribution in the curriculum in the country’s progress, recognized citizens’ “inalienable right” to “good health”, and sought peace and promotion of girls’ education in Swat.

Though the legislators submitted 30 private motions aboutconstituency and provincial issues such as health, education and food inflation, none of them was taken up for debate.

Out of the 536 starred questions on the agenda, the House took up 278. Additionally 1,202 supplementary questions were also asked. Most questions were directed to the ministries of fisheries (36), works and services (32), irrigation (30) and industries and jail (28 each). Women legislators were more active in their oversight roles as they brought 354 questions to the agenda.

During the five sessions, the legislators,19 females and 58 males, – raised 398 points of order, consuming 1,018 minutes or 15% of the total time of these sessions.

About PPF:

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) is an independent media research, documentation and training centre working to promote and defend freedom of press. PPF is recognised internationally as a credible organization working to improve the standards of journalism and defending freedom of expression. PPF is founding member of FAFEN.

About FAFEN:

Governed by Trust for Democratic Education and Accountability (TDEA), Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), established in 2006, is a coalition of 42 leading civil society organizations working to strengthen all forms of democratic accountabilities in Pakistan.

President condoles death of mother of Asma Jahangir and Hina Jilani

Islamabad, September 30, 2012 (PPI-OT): President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed his profound grief and sorrow over the demise of Begum Malik Ghulam Jilani, mother of Ms. Asma Jahangir, Ex. President Supreme Court Bar Association and Ms. Hina Jilani, a leading Human Rights Activist.

In his condolence message to Ms. Asma Jahangir and Ms. Hina Jilani, the President said that death of one’s mother was a great personal loss. He said that my thoughts and prayers are with you and the bereaved family.

The President prayed to Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and to give courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss with fortitude.

For more information, contact:
Haji Ahmed Malik
Principal Information Officer
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +9251 925 2323 and +9251 925 2324
Fax: +9251 925 2325 and +9251 925 2326
Email: piopid@gmail.com

Sports Board Punjab arranges big screens at Punjab Stadium

Lahore, September 30, 2012 (PPI-OT): The Sports Board Punjab to facilitate fans watch the Pakistan and India World T20 Super Eight match made special arrangements at the Punjab Stadium on Sunday night and more than 100,000 people overcrowded the venue to cheer on every ball bowled and every boundary scored.

The atmosphere at the stadium was so much berserk that it seemed that the match is not being played at Colombo but at the Punjab Stadium. The initiative of showing the match on wide screen was taken by Usman Anwar, Director General SBP and Youth Affairs, who has also brought the youngsters of the province on one platform through the Punjab Youth Festival.

Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, Deputy Speaker and chief organizer of the Festival, also visited the venue to witness the enthusiasm of the people while DCO Lahore Noorul Amin also reached the stadium keeping view gathering of the crowd and special and prompt security arrangements were also made to meet any untoward incident. Secretary Sports Haroon Ahmed Khan was also present on the occasion.

Usman Anwar said that with the youth festival they have given the youth an opportunity to come dare and build the future of your dreams. “We have given them a path so they dare to achieve their desired destination,” he added.

A large number of families with children also came to stadium to watch match on the big screens and it seemed that match was being played in front of their eyes and not at Colombo’s Pramadasa Stadium. It was not only Lahore’s Punjab Stadium but big screens were also installed at seven big cities of the province and similar reports were received from those cities. In fact the capacity of the stadium is 30,000 but there was hardly an inch to sit at the stadium and half of the crowd was sitting on the grass in front of four big screens.

For more information, Contact:
Sports Board Punjab
National Hockey Stadium, Lahore
Ph: (92-42) 99231993
Fax: (92-42) 99230664
Website: www.sportsportal.punjab.gov.pk

Habib University gets charter

Karachi, September 30, 2012 (PPI-OT): Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan ascended the bill for the establishment of Habib University.

Granting final approval to bill the Governor commended Habib University terming it as “an excellent addition in the higher education sector for imparting quality education.”

The Charter had been unanimously approved by the Sindh Assembly in June 2012, with the ministers and assembly members recognising and lauding the House of Habib’s vital contribution towards the social sector in Pakistan.

Rafiq M Habib, chairman, board of governors, Habib University thanked the governor and said, “We are grateful to Dr Ebad for the smooth passage of this Bill.

With the support of the provincial government, we are one step closer to actualising our vision of establishing a world-class centre of excellence in Karachi.”

For more information, contact:
Sindh Governor House
Syed Wajahat Ali
Press Secretary to Governor
Tel: 99201217, 99201201-3
Email: press_secretary@governorsindh.gov.pk

Prime Minister condoles death of Mother of Asma Jahangir

Islamabad, September 30, 2012 (PPI-OT): Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has expressed his grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Begum Malik Ghulam Jilani, mother of Ms. Asma Jahangir, Ex. President Supreme Court Bar Association and Ms. Hina Jilani, a leading Human Rights Activist.

The Prime Minister expressed his heartfelt condolences and sincere sympathies with members of the bereaved family. He prayed to Almighty Allah to shower His countless blessings upon the departed soul and give strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense loss with equanimity.

For more information, contact:
Haji Ahmed Malik
Principal Information Officer
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +9251 925 2323 and +9251 925 2324
Fax: +9251 925 2325 and +9251 925 2326
Email: piopid@gmail.com

Fancy Birds show amuse visitors at Expo Centre

Lahore, September 30, 2012 (PPI-OT): The District Level of the Punjab Youth Festival 2012 commenced all over the province on Sunday as the competitions in the next seven days would be held in 147 sports and general category events. These 147 events have been divided among 14 sectors of the society with sports sector having five sectors and the remaining nine are of general category while total prize money at stake would be Rs 1577,300.

On the opening day Pet Competition of fancy Birds was held at Expo Centre Lahore where MNA Mahreen Anwar Raja was the surprise guest and was amused to see the beauty and well-trained behavior of the pet birds. Poultry Production 16 Cooper Road and Livestock and Dairy Development Programme organsied this bird show as part of the Punjab Youth Festival under the supervision of Dr Mohammad Naeem, Abdul Rehman and Dr Mohamamd Sadiq Gul who also established an information cell. Contratry to the expectations a large number of people including families and children came to watch the different type birds and the beauty of the nature. Also present on the occasion were Dr MY Rizwan, Dr Mohamamd NAeem, Hafiz Naseer of Lachman Pharmaceuticals and more than 150 species of birds were put on display.

Director General Sports Board and Youth Affairs while giving the details of the District Level, which stands fourth in the Events Flow Chart of the festival, said that separate competitions for boys and girls schools at secondary and college level are part of this stage. “Apart from competitions in sports the boys and girls of secondary schools and college and the general public will compete in a minimum of eight sports events while a maximum of 19 sports events will be contested in general public sector,” he informed.

“The public would be competing in three categories of arm wrestling, eight athletic events, badminton, billiard, cricket (tape ball and hard ball), tug of war, volleyball, bodybuilding in three weight categories, football, fun race of 2.5 kilometres, weightlifting in three weight classes, basketball, chess, hockey, kabaddi, mat wrestling, mud wrestling, table tennis, karate in three classes, taekwondo in the same number of body weights and tent pegging,” he added. Usman further stated that the male and female events will be held separately or on alternate days while the college sector of males and females will have intake from District level. @The secondary school (male) will compete in 13 sports events while females will have competitions in eight sports. “In College (male) there will be competitions in 19 sports and the battle of supremacy among college female students will be seen in nine sports events,” said Usman.

“The general category events include naat khani, qirat, cooking, horticulture, painting, photography, poetry/mushaira, milli naghme, calligraphy, dress designing, stitching, handicraft, family dressing, kitchen gardening, healthy baby and pet competitions,” he added. He further informed that male and female students of elementary schools will have competitions in debate,essay writing, milli naghme, naat khano, painting and qirat while similar nature of events with an addition of some more categories have been included in the events list of secondary and college students. “Like in the Tehsil stage, District level also have competitions of bull, dog, horse, bull cart, donkey cart races, tippling, pigeon flying, best agriculture and best livestock produce,” he said. Usman Anwar said that the competitions will be held simultaneously at all the 36 districts of the province and the winners of the previous levels would form teams of their Youth and Development Councils, Union Councils and Tehsils to take part in the District level.

For more information, Contact:
Sports Board Punjab
National Hockey Stadium, Lahore
Ph: (92-42) 99231993
Fax: (92-42) 99230664
Website: www.sportsportal.punjab.gov.pk