The National Assembly resumed its session at the Parliament House in Islamabad on Monday evening with Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in the chair.

The House offered fateha for the departed souls of various people, including those martyred in a terrorist attack in Bajaur yesterday.

 Maulana Muhammad Anwar led the Fateha.

On the occasion, the chair also expressed deep grief and sorrow with the JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and JUI-F’s parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Maulana Asad Mehmood over the loss of precious lives of their workers in the Bajaur blast. He also urged the government to take necessary steps to bring the culprits involved in this incident to the book.

The lawmakers also called for exposing the elements behind the incidents of terrorism, taking place in Pakistan.

Responding to a call attention notice regarding electricity load-shedding and overbilling in NA-249, Karachi, Parliamentary Secretary for Power Rana Iradat Sharif Khan told the House that there are 55 feeders in this constituency and 20 of them are load-shedding free. He further said that eight feeders fall under the category of medium loss, while 27 others are considered as high-loss feeders, where a load-shedding of six and ten hours are carried out respectively.

“The Pakistan Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill, 2023”, “The National Commission for Human Development (Amendment) Bill, 2023”, “The Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences and Technology, Islamabad (Amendment) Bill, 2023”, “The Defence Housing Authority Islamabad (Amendment) Bill, 2023”, “The Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2023”, “The Cantonments (Amendment) Bill, 2023”,  and “The Board of Investment (Amendment) Bill, 2023.”

The Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to amend provision of the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, so as to provide the structural underpinnings of raising and maintaining the Army.

As per the Bill, Pakistan Army upon direction or with the concurrence of relevant authorities of the government, may directly or indirectly, carry out activities related to national development and advancement of national or strategic interest.

The Bill also bars dual nationals to take commission in the armed forces.   It authorizes the Federal Government, in extra ordinary circumstance, to retain any person of the army compulsorily in service upto sixty years of age with the recommendation of the Army Chief. Any person guilty of disclosing any information, acquired in official capacity which is or may be prejudicial to the security and interest of Pakistan or the Armed Forces will be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term up to five years.

The Bill further recommends that a person shall not engage in political activity of any kind within a period of two years from the date of his retirement, release, resignation, discharged, removal or dismissal from the service. Besides, any person remained posted, employed, seconded, tasked or otherwise attached on sensitive duties, shall not take part in political activities during a period of five years from the date of his retirement.

The legislation also forbids a personnel from entering into employment consultation or other engagement with an entity having conflict of interest with any of the activities of the Armed Forces of Pakistan or its affiliated entities in a manner or position that utilizes the skills or experience acquired during association with Armed forces.  However, this provision will not apply on employment made after prior approval from the Army Chief.  Any person guilty of offence will be punish with imprisonment  for a term of upto two years or with fine not exceeding five hundred thousand rupees or both.

The Bill also deals with the electronic crimes under which a personnel, involved in undermining, ridiculing or scandalizing the Armed Forces shall be punished.

Speaking on the occasion, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar made it clear that no provision of this bill is applicable on civilians.

The National Assembly also accorded unanimous approval to the Board of Investment (Amendment) Bill 2023, aimed at boosting foreign investment in the country with the establishment of Special Investment Facilitation Council.

The House will now meet tomorrow at 11 a.m.