Better Pakistan | Constitutional work of PMLN

Better Pakistan | Constitutional work

The politics of Pakistan is dynamic in its nature and is rich in its diverse political cultures from NA-1 to the last constituency of the National Assembly in Gawadar. This diverse political culture has a major classification in terms of leftist and rightist politics. Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz is the largest right wing party in Pakistan and is known as a faction in favor of true democracy. They have a popular belief that a tenacious representation of our countrymen is the only solution for an affluent and unified nation. Throughout their struggle for democracy Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz executed good governance based on the constitutional and legislative framework. Their legislative work rendered the groundwork for pro people policies and laws. This blog post is notably important in the view that any government is known for the legislative work, as the development at the micro level is entirely dependent on the legislative framework. All the leaders of political parties of Pakistan are unanimous on this one point that the key role of an elected member of the National and Provincial assemblies is law making. Their prime aim is to formulate new governing rules of the nation to facilitate the scientific and educational as well as social growth of the country.  New organizations are established on the substrate of the available sets of laws. The formulation of new organizations, in fact can be considered proportional to the national growth. This blog prompts to highlight the legislative work by PMLN while they were in provincial and federal governments.

From 1985 till 1990, in the two fractured tenures the legislative work was commendable. Out of the several bills that were inducted in the rules of business, some highly effective bills passed were the Public gambling act (repeal) act that was passed in 1985. During that time most of the bills passed were the repealing acts as given below. 

1. The Punjab Acquisition of Land (Housing) (Repeal) Act, 1985
2. The Punjab Local Option (Repeal) Ordinance, 1985
3. The Race Courses Licensing (Repeal) Ordinance, 1985
4. The Martial Law Order No.1371 (Repeal) Act, 1989
5. The Punjab Employees? Special Allowance (Payment) Act, 1988 
6. The Ex-Employees of the Former Government of East Pakistan (Appointment to Provincial Posts) Act, 1986 

*Repeal acts are those that were used to remove the Martial-law infringements. They are an epitome of how the law was  democratized during the presence of a Martial Law administrator.

Besides these repeal laws, in order to preserve the historical places in Punjab a law was formed for the preservation of historical places. This law is known as The Punjab Special Premises (Preservation) Ordinance 1985 . Since, Punjab has a highly displaced pattern of population throughout its terrain it was felt necessary that those living in Katchi abadees be given land ownership for their houses. For this purpose The Punjab Jinnah Abadis for Non-Proprietors in Rural Areas Act  was passed in 1986, Yes EXACTLY 25 years before the BIRTH OF CHANGE. The present work of Ashiana Housing Scheme of the Shahbaz Sharif government is actually a continuation of this act. 

For the fast development of the infrastructure and to boost the provincial economy and hence the national economy, for the first time in Pakistan PUNJAB prepared the legislative frame of reference for the establishment of The Punjab Highways Authority  through an act in 1989. In  the same year for uplifting tourism in the northern hill station of Punjab, The Murree-Kahuta Development Authority  was formed, that too through an act in 1989. 

During 1988-90 the federal govt. was of PPP that was at the highest peak of rivalry with Mian Nawaz Sharif's lead govt. in Punjab. In order to damage the financial situation of Punjab the money issued by the Federal govt. (commonly known as NFC award) was delayed intentionally, which forced the political and economic acumen Mian Nawaz Sharif to open a bank for Punjab so that this issue could be solved. Therefore in 1989 the The Bank of Punjab was formed through an act by the Punjab Assembly. This bank is now serving millions of Pakistanis across the country and also playing a key role in the national economy. This is also important to mention that based on this epitome of legislation PPP govt. also established MEHRAN BANK and Bolan bank that later became the largest financial scams of the country. 

Despite my search for the legislative record for national assembly I was not able to find the detailed legislative work of PMLN at federal levels. Perhaps the reason the Punjab Assembly website is properly updated is CM SHAHBAZ INSIDE. Anyhow, the records I have found are about one law that was included in the twelfth amendment of consultation that was made in 1991. It was about the establishment of special courts for the trial of heinous offenses. Later in the elections of 1990, the people of Pakistan showed their full confidence in the leadership of Mian Nawaz Sharif. That was the right time to implement the big ideas on a national level. Following are the major legislative activities across the country during 1990-1993. In 1992 the Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal Act was approved.

Punjab

In Punjab the govt. of PMLN was led by Late Ghulam Haider Wyne who was an experienced legislator. In those two years the most important institutions were formalized that not only helped the educated youth in getting jobs but also served well the people of Punjab. Among those laws, the most considerable were the establishment of Punjab Baitul Maal and Punjab Health Foundation that were established in 1991 and 1992 respectively. For the micro level development of southern Punjab two new development authorities were also formed in Bahawalpur and D.G. Khan. I must say that those who are dying for the rights of south Punjab have practically done nothing for them. A list of legislative work is given below.

1.  The Employment of Children Act 1991 
2. The Dera Ghazi Khan Development Authority Act, 1991 
3. The Punjab Bait-ul-Maal Act, 1991 
4. The Punjab Pre-emption Act, 1991
5. The Bahawalpur Development Authority Act, 1991 
6. The Punjab Subordinate Judiciary Service Tribunal Act, 1991 
7. The Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Act, 1992
8. The Punjab Katchi Abadis Act, 1992 
9. The Punjab Health Foundation Act, 1992 
10. The Punjab Undesirable Cooperative Societies (Dissolution) Act, 1993

NWFP 

In KPK which was NWFP then, the govt. was led by the Mir Afzal Khan. The list of legislative work is given below.

1. The N.W.F.P Provincial Assembly (Powers, Immunities and Privileges) (Amendment) Act, 1990
2. The N.W.F.P Employees on Contract Basis (Regulation of Services) (Amendment) Act, 1990
3. The N.W.F.P Provincial Assembly (Powers, Immunities and Privileges) (2Nd Amendment) Act, 1990
4. The North-West Frontier Province Finance Act, 1990
5. The N.W.F.P Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1991
6. The N.W.F.P Civil Servants (Amendment) Act, 1991
7. The N.W.F.P District Development Advisory Committees (Amendment) Act, 1991
8. The N.W.F.P Historical Mosques and Shrines Fund Cass (Amendment) Act, 1991
9. The N.W.F.P Service Tribunal (Amendment) Act, 1991
10. The N.W.F.P (Payment of Dearness Allowance To Certain Employees (Amendment) Act, 1991
11. The N.W.F.P Salaries, Allowances and Privileges Laws (Amendment) Act, 1991
12. The N.W.F.P Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (Amendment) Act, 1991
13. The Provincial Assembly of N.W.F.P (Salaries and Allowances of Members) (Amendment) Act, 1991
14. The N.W.F.P Provincial Assembly (Powers , Immunities and Privileges (Amendment) Act,1992
15. The N.W.F.P Government Servants Benevolent Fund (Amendment) Act, 1992
16. The N.W.F.P Universities (Amendment) Act, 1992
17. The N.W.F.P (Payment of Dearness Allowance To Certain Employees (Amendment) Act, 1992
18. The N.W.F.P Pre-Emption (Amendment) Act, 1992
19. The N.W.F.P Tenancy (Amendment) Act, 1992

During 1997-99 the people of Pakistan showed their confidence in PMLN and bestowed us with a two third majority. That confidence was payed back to the people of Pakistan by steering the nation in the right direction. Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz is fully aware of the benefits of a continuous democratic process. Earlier in Pakistan, democracy had been a victim of ambushes from various forces that halted the process of a democratically elected government. It was nothing but a foul game that Ghulam Ishaq Khan played against PMLN in the early 90s. Although, his decision was overruled by the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the democratically elected government was reinstated, however, this shocked the confidence of foreign investors and it was a mighty blow for the healing economy of Pakistan. In 1997, when the Pakistani nation conferred them two third majority in the parliament the first step they took was a legal way to get rid of the controversial parts of the 8th amendment in the constitution of Pakistan. To make Pakistan a proper democratic country where an elected Prime Minister is held responsible for ruling the country, a constitutional amendment was made that took over the powers of the President to dismiss a democratically elected government. Furthermore the Control of Narcotics Substances Act, was passed in 1997.

At the provincial level, in Punjab several new institutions were formed for uplifting the scientific research in Punjab. Legislative bills for the establishment of higher education were also passed. For increasing the tax net the agriculture tax was imposed on the income of agricultural land which was later abolished by the dictator Musharraf. The most important legislative work in this tenure however, was the act for the transfusion of safe blood and Punjab agricultural research board. Today the credit of IT revolution is given to Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman, while completely ignoring the establishment of Punjab Information Technology Board in 1999. The first Women Univeristy in Pakistan was also established during this tenure 

1. The Punjab Agricultural Income Tax Act, 1997 
2. The Lahore School of Economics Act, 1997
3. The Punjab Office of the Ombudsman Act, 1997 
4. The Punjab Irrigation and Drainage Authority Act, 1997 
5. The Punjab Agricultural Research Board Act, 1997 
6. The Punjab Environmental Protection Act, 1997
7. The Punjab Environmental Protection Act, 1997
8. The Punjab Land Revenue (Abolition) Act, 1998 
9. The Disposal of Land by Development Authorities (Regulation) Act, 1998 
10. The Punjab Shops and Establishment (Security) Act, 1999 
11. The Punjab Transfusion of Safe Blood Ordinance 1999 
12. The Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi Ordinance 1999 
13. The Punjab Information Technology Board Ordinance, 1999 
14. The Defence Housing Authority Lahore Ordinance, 1999 

A list of legislative work in NWFP is also given below.

1. The North West Frontier Province (Amendment of Laws) Act 1997
2. The Galiyat Development Authority (Amendment) Act, 1999
3. The Kaghan Development Authority (Amendment) Act, 1996
4. The N.W.F.P Sarhad Development Authority (Amendment) Act, 1999
5. The Provincial Motor Vehicle (N.W.F.P Amendment) Act, 1999
6. The N.W.F.P District Development Advisory Committees (Amendment) Act, 1999 

In 1999, the government of PMLN was toppled unconstitutionally by a military dictator that lead to the exile of Mian Nawaz Sharif in 2000. In 2007 elections the chief of PMLN Mian Nawaz Sharif was allowed to come back to Pakistan. Under his command the election campaign of PMLN was highly effective and PMLN was able to form the govt. again in Punjab. Despite of the difficulties they faced as a result of federal PPP government, the work for legislation in Punjab was commendable. 11 bills were passed for the establishment of higher education institutes. Several new institutes were formed that included the Punjab Examination commission, Punjab Healthcare Commission, Punjab Revenue Authority, Parks and Horticulture Authority and the Danish School and COE authority. These not only helped in establishing a better governance across Punjab but they also reflect the seriousness of the elected legislators of PMLN. The list of 43 bills passed during the last 5 years of Shahbaz Sharif government in Punjab are as follows.

Punjab Fourth tenure (2008-2013)

1. The Nazaria-i-Pakistan Foundation (Repeal) Act 2008
2. The Punjab General Provident Investment Fund Act 2009
3. The Punjab Rented Premises Act, 2009
4. The Punjab Procurement Regulatory Authority Act, 2009
5. The Hitech University of Taxila Act 2009
6. The Ali Institute of Education Lahore Act 2010
7. The Punjab Privatization Board Act 2010
8. The Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010 
9. The Punjab Daanish Schools and Centers of Excellence Authority Act 2010
10. The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 2010
11. The Punjab Public-Private Partnership for Infrastructure Act 2010
12. The Punjab Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority Act 2010
13. The Punjab Examination Commission Act 2010
14. The Sasti Roti Authority Act 2010
15. The Institute of Southern Punjab Multan Act 2010
16. The Women University Multan Act 2010
17. The Punjab Healthcare Commission Act 2010
18. The Punjab Industrial Relations Act 2010
19. The Global Institute Lahore Act 2011
20. The Lahore Leads University Act 2011
21. The Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) Act, 2011
22. The Qarshi University, Muridke Act 2011
23. The Punjab Food Authority Act, 2011
24. The Lahore Ring Road Authority Act 2011
25. The Punjab Power Development Board Act 2011
26. The Punjab Bus Stands and Traffic Control (Gujranwala) Ordinance, 1963 (XX of 1963) (Repeal) Act 2011
27. The Punjab Bus Stands and Traffic Control (Lahore) Ordinance, 1963 (XIX of 1963) (Repeal) Act 2011
28. The Punjab Conferment of Proprietary Rights on Occupancy Tenants and Muqarraridars Act 2012
29. The Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan Act 2012
30. The Walled City of Lahore Act 2012
31. The Punjab Sales Tax on Services Act 2012
32. The Punjab Revenue Authority Act 2012
33. The Parks and Horticulture Authority Act 2012
34. The Punjab Curriculum Authority Act 2012
35. The Information Technology University of the Punjab Act 2012
36. The Punjab Metrobus Authority Act 2012
37. The Punjab Partition of Immovable Property Act 2012
38. The Government College Women University Faisalabad Act 2012
39. The Government College Women University Sialkot Act 2012
40. The Government Sadiq College Women University Bahawalpur Act 2012
41. The Defense Housing Authority Rawalpindi Act 2013
42. The Lahore Canal Heritage Park Act 2013 

They have a popular belief that a tenacious representation of our countrymen is the only solution for an affluent and unified nation. Throughout their struggle for democracy Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz executed good governance based on the constitutional and legislative framework. Their legislative work rendered the groundwork for pro people policies and laws.

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