ISLAMABAD, 1 November 2005 — The North West Frontier Province government again tabled the controversial ‘Taleban-style’ Hasba Bill before the provincial legislative assembly yesterday.
The bill was earlier struck down by NWFP Governor Khalilur Rehman.
The provincial government led by the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal made a few amendments to the bill before tabling it in the NWFP Assembly in Peshawar.
The bill aims at replacing certain clauses that were declared “unconstitutional” by the Supreme Court.
Basically, the MMA government in NWFP wants to acquire power to set up its own accountability courts and appoint judges which under the statute, is a federal subject.
“The bill transgresses federal legislation,” commented former law minister and sitting senator, Khalid Ranjha.
In the revised bill, several controversial clauses have been deleted.
Provincial Law Minister Malik Zafar Azam told reporters, “The previous bill is dead because the governor did not approve it. Under the constitution any bill after its passage by the provincial legislative assembly needs to be approved by the governor. The bill has to be signed by the governor to be made into law.
The opposition parties in the NWFP Assembly including ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam) group, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz Sharif group), Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan People’s Party (Sherpao group), Awami National Party and independent members have opposed the bill.
During the last local polls in Dera Ismail Khan all these parties had forged an alliance against Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s brother Ubaidur Rehman for the post of district Nazim. The MMA lost the poll to Mukhtar Khan who was jointly fielded by all anti-MMA forces.
