Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan laid before the house the Annual Report of Pakistan Information Commission for the period 1st January 2020 to 30th November 2020.

The National Assembly was informed today (Friday) that Pakistan’s notified borders with Afghanistan are open for trade and business activities.

Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Gul Dad Khan and others in the house today, Parliamentary Secretary for Interior Shaukat Ali said the notified borders are Torkham, Chaman, Badini, Angur Ada, Ghulam Khan and Kharlachi.

The movers of the calling attention emphasized the need for enhancing trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. They said more crossing points should be opened between the two countries to achieve the objective.

Minister for Energy Omer Ayub Khan laid before the house the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power Amendment Ordinance 2021.

Two bills were also laid before the house today. These included: The Muslim Family Laws Amendment Bill and the National Commission on the Rights of Child Amendment Bill. The chair referred the bills to the standing committees concerned.

Responding to the points raised by minorities’ members, Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari said a bill has been prepared against the forced conversions.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said that a parliamentary committee was constituted to guarantee the rights of the minorities as per the constitution of Pakistan. He said we respect the rights of the minority community.

PPP leader Naveed Qamar said his party will fully support any bill aimed at protecting the rights of minorities.

Taking the floor, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said the situation has returned to normalcy in the country after the steps taken by the government to deal with the violent protests of a religious group.  He said all the roads have been opened. He said no group can be allowed to disturb the law and order situation and dictate its terms to the government. He said neither the religion nor the constitution allows attacks on the police personnel.

The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs recalled that both the houses of the parliament passed unanimous resolutions strongly condemning the publication of blasphemous material in France.  He said Prime Minister Imran Khan raised the issue strongly at every world forum.

The Speaker said that we are all ‘Aashiq-e-Rasool’ and can sacrifice our lives for the sanctity of Hazrat Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wa Sallam Khatam-un-Nabiyyin.

The house offered fateha for Hazrat Syeda Fatima (R.A) on the occasion of her death anniversary being observed today.

The House will now meet on Monday at two pm.