The 13th National Assembly, completing its historic five years tenure, achieved a legislative agenda which altered the country's governance structure by ensuring provincial autonomy and restoring the 1973 constitution, and promoted women's empowerment. However, the last session of the assembly was marked by low interest of members as low attendance persisted throughout the session, and the lower house left 70% of the agenda appearing on the Orders of the Day unaddressed. The 50th session witnessed the passage of bills on counter-terrorism, general elections, education and health. Maintaining the tradition of political consensus over legislation and other national interest issues, the house unanimously passed 15 bills, including two amendments to the Anti-terrorism Act to expand the powers of law enforcement agencies to tackle financing for acts of terrorism and empowering them to detain suspects for a period of thirty days. In addition, a bill was passed to set up the National Counter Terrorism Authority.
Islamabad, February 15, 2013: Marked by passage of four education-related bills amid walkouts on the imposition of Governor's rule in Balochistan and the debate...
Islamabad, December 26, 2012: The 48th session of the National Assembly witnessed the passage of two treasury-backed bills as well as the Fair Trial...
History was made when the government presented the fifth consecutive budget in the National Assembly becoming the first civilian government to do so. But the...
