Parliament makes history by completing tenure
15 March, 2013
ISLAMABAD: The current parliament made history on Thursday by becoming the first in the country's history to complete a full term in office, dissolving in a low-key session that paves the way for elections. On the last day of its five-year constitutional tenure the National Assembly witnessed a rare show of unanimity in praising the role of parliament, with the exception of few dissenting voices, and called the completion of the term a milestone in strengthening the democratic process in the country. It also adopted unanimously four resolutions, rare in a single day, particularly related to girls' education. It dubbed the acts against girls education an offence. The House session, which started in the noon, spanned over seven to eight hours to allow majority of the members to express their viewpoints. Apart from the heavyweights of various parties, the backbenchers were also allowed to speak. The significance of the last day was unanimous adoption of four resolutions moved by various members, although the number of lawmakers kept decreasing as the day proceeded. The most striking resolution was related to girls education, which was moved by PML-Q's Dr Attiya Anayatullah, and adopted unanimously. It envisaged that education is the fundamental right of every girl and urged all those elements blocking the way of girls right to education to be dealt strictly. It emphasised that the next elected assembly should carry out proper legislation for girls education. The House also adopted a resolution moved by JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman which expressed concern over evolving situation in the Indian-occupied Kashmir and called upon India to hand over the body of Afza Guru, a Kashmiri activist hanged some time back, to his family. It also demanded India pull out his armed force from the civilian population and strike down the black laws imposed in the occupied territory. The House reiterated that the right of self-determination is the fundamental right of people of Kashmiri in the light of resolutions and charter of the UN and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). It said that Pakistan supports the just struggle of the people of Kashmir and would continue to support them morally, diplomatically and politically. It urged the international community not to remain silent on the situation in the region and force India to stop its atrocities in the valley and demanded UN to take practical steps for implementation of its resolutions related to Kashmir. End.
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