NA overturns polls rule brought in by Musharraf
13 March, 2013
ISLAMABAD: The government and opposition joined hands on Tuesday in the National Assembly to overturn a Musharraf-era condition binding the contesting candidates to appear before the returning officer personally at the time of filing nomination papers. The House also unanimously passed a bill moved by PML-Q's Dr Attiya Inayatullah for prohibition of corporal punishment against children. The bill envisages that "any person who is guilty of inflicting corporal punishment on a child shall be punishable with imprisonment extending up to a maximum of one year or fine up to fifty thousands rupees or both". The rare show of unanimity reflected so deeply in the ranks of both sides that government did not object to the passage of the bill on the very day it was introduced. PML-N's legal wizard Zahid Hamid, who was law minister in the Musharraf regime, tabled the bill to amend the Representation of Peoples Act 1976 as well as Conduct of General Elections Order 2002. On the request of Zahid Hamid and without any objection, the rules were suspended to refer the bill to the relevant committee of the House. It was passed with the consent of the government. Apart from the PPP and PML-N, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and PML-Q also supported the bill. End.
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