ISLAMABAD, March 6 ( APP): The National Assembly met in Parliament House here Monday with Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in the Chair.
The Chair announced the Panel of the Presiding Officers for the current session. It includes Muhammad Pervaiz Malik, Mahmood Bashir Virk, Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, Shaikh Salahuddin, Shahida Akhtar Ali and Ghazi Gulab Jamal.
At the outset of the proceedings, the House offered Fateha for the departed souls for those martyred in the different incidents of terrorism, bomb blasts and natural disasters in the country.
A member of the Standing Committee on Communications presented the report of the committee on the Post Office (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
The House witnessed the presentation of 18 periodical reports of the standing committees on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Inter-Provincial Coordination, Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage, Petroleum and Natural Resources, Railways, National Food Security and Research, House and Library Committee, Housing and Works, Interior and Narcotics Control, Science and technology.
Answering a question, Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid informed the House that 264712 cases of murder, kidnapping and terrorism are pending in the High Courts across the country. He said that in Lahore High Court 159577 such cases are pending, in High Court of Sindh 83937, in Peshawar High Court 1363, in High Court of Balochistan 6091 and in Islamabad High Court 13744 cases are pending so far.
Responding to a Calling Attention Notice moved by Khalida Mansoor and others regarding non-increase in the pension, in proportion to price hike of retired employees by the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution, Parliamentary Secretary for Inter-Provincial Coordination Muhammad Shafqat Hayat Khan told the House that in April, 2015 the minimum pension was enhanced from 3600 to 5250 and special assistance worth 853 million rupees was provided by the Prime Minister.
He said after the 18th Amendment, the matter has been transferred to the provinces and due to reservations of some provinces the matter is sub-judice.
The House will now meet tomorrow morning at 10:30.
APP/saima/anm/VNS Islamabad
