Meeting of heads of allied parties in Presidency

Islamabad, July 6, 2012:



A meeting of heads of allied parties was held at Aiwan-e-Sadr Friday night with Co-Chairman PPP President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf in chair.



The meeting was attended among others by former Prime Minister Syed Yusaf Raza Gilani, Senator Ch. Shujaat Hussain, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel, Senator Afrasiab Khattak, Dr. Farooq Sattar, Dr. Nadeem Ahsan, Senator Mir Israrullah Zehri, Senator Abbas Khan Afridi, and Mr. Munir Khan Orakzai.



Mr. Qamar Zaman Kaira, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mr. Farook H. Naek, federal law Minister and Spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar were also present.



Spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar said that Mr. Farook H. Naek, federal law Minister briefed the meeting of coalition partners on the legislative measures proposed to be placed before the National Assembly and the Senate during the current session.



The Law Minister Farook Neek briefed the meeting about the rationale and background of the proposed legislative measures which had already been approved by the cabinet of coalition government. He said that a constitutional amendment bill called 21st constitutional amendment bill  will be placed before the National Assembly to increase the family pension from 50% to 75% for the widows of judges of the Supreme Court and High courts.



The 22nd constitutional amendment seeks to remove impediments in the way of Pakistanis holding dual nationalities/ citizenship from contesting election to the Parliament, he said.



Mr. Farook Naek said that the third legislative measure pertained to enacting a law relating to the contempt of court. He said that the proposed contempt law is a blend of the powers of the court to punish for its contempt with the right of citizens in a democracy for fair comments and criticism.



He explained that the proposed law provides for punishment for contempt as well as full opportunity to the accused for a fair trial including transparent procedures for right to appeal. He said that the right for appeal was being streamlined in the bill.



The Law minister said that the fourth legislative measures is an ordinance that will be placed before the National Assembly to validate acts , orders and other instruments made and issued from April 26, 2012 to June 19, 2012 by the former Prime Minister Syed Yuasf Raza Gilani.



The Supreme Court order dated June 19, 2012 and the notification of the Election Commission are retrospective from April 26, 2012 when Syed Yusaf Raza Gilani was disqualified as member of the National Assembly and ceased to be the prime Minster. He said that it was necessary that acts and orders issued by the Prime Minister from 26 April 2012 to 19 June 2012 were given protection and validity to avoid legal complications.



Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf briefed the meeting on the current energy situation and the measures taken to address the issue. He said that the power situation was steadily improving and the government was keeping a strict watch on the progress in addressing the issue of energy shortages.



The spokesperson said that coalition partners reiterated their support to the government.



The President also hosted dinner for the heads of allied parties.