NA meets on Monday, to discuss important national issues

ISLAMABAD, Jan 11 (APP): The National Assembly meets tomorrow (Monday) at 3 pm and takes up important national issues during the session which includes scraping of the controversial 17th Amendment in the Constitution. Pakistan Muslim League (N), sources said, was planning to move repeal of the 17th Amendment, which the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan say can only be amended and not abolished.

“The 17th Amendment also provides constitutional cover to some national institutions,” Babar said.

Any amendment in the Constitution requires two third majority of the house to pass and for this purpose PML (N) and PML (Q) could join hands in the parliament.

However, the modalities of cooperation are yet to be worked out by both the parties.

The PML (N) is also likely to approach other smaller political parties to garner their support for repealing the 17th Amendment.

It was also learnt that the party has not yet decided whether it will move the bill on the opening day of the session or on some other day.

The other issues likely to figure during the session are Israeli attacks on Gaza, Pakistan’s position in the aftermath of Mumbai attacks and its admittance that Ajmal Kasab is a Pakistani national.

Debate on President’s address to the joint sitting of the parliament on September 20 last year, will also continue.

Security and economic situation, power outages that led to rioting in some cities and the oil companies not passing on the benefits to the general public after recent plunge in oil prices in international market, are some other issues likely to be agitated by the political parties.

Meanwhile, sources told APP that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has issued special instructions to the ministers and parliamentary secretaries to ensure their presence in the house throughout the session.

He has also asked them to come well prepared and “do their homework” during the Question Hour and be ready to answer the queries raised by the opposition on various issues.

In the last session, the opposition was particularly perturbed over the low turn out of the relevant ministers during the Question Hour.

Prime Minister Gilani, once scolded his ministers for not being able to answer questions, saying it was the responsibility of all cabinet members to reply to queries raised in the house.

He has set up good democratic traditions by coming to the house regularly and frequently answers questions.

The Prime Minister also takes the house into confidence by issuing policy statements on number of important issues.

Prior to the start of the session, parliamentary parties meeting of government and coalition partners and the opposition parties will also be held in the parliament.