Latest news with #ParliamentofPakistan
Business Recorder
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Iran-Israel war: ambassador praises Pakistan's support
ISLAMABAD: Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam said that Iranian Parliament, government and its people expressed gratitude to the Parliament, people, and government of Pakistan for their unwavering support during Iran-Israel war. The ambassador expressed these views in a meeting with Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq at Parliament House on Friday. Deputy Speaker National Assembly Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah and Federal Minister for Interior Syed Mohsin Naqvi were also present. Iranian Ambassador expressed deep gratitude to the Speaker and the people of Pakistan for their consistent and heartfelt support. He acknowledged Pakistan as a true and reliable friend, especially in difficult times. He thanked Speaker Sadiq for being the first to express solidarity with Iran following the Israeli attack and praised Pakistan's principled stance in supporting Iran across all international platforms. Ambassador Moghadam also conveyed appreciation on behalf of the Iranian Parliament and government to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Parliament of Pakistan, and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for their unwavering support. He stated that Israel's attack was a deliberate attempt to damage Iran's nuclear programme, and that Israel's weakening position led to the United States becoming directly involved in the conflict. Finally, the Iranian ambassador lauded Pakistan's positive and constructive role in supporting peace and stability across the region. He emphasised the importance of strengthening parliamentary cooperation as a means to further deepen ties between the two countries and acknowledged the Speaker's commendable efforts in fostering bilateral engagement. National Assembly Speaker Sadiq has said that Pakistan and Iran enjoys cordial ties rooted in shared religion, history, and cultural heritage. He reaffirmed that the friendship between the two neighbouring countries continues to grow stronger with time. Welcoming the announcement of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, the Speaker emphasised that what the world needs today is not more war, but a renewed commitment to peace. He reiterated that Pakistan has always played a proactive role in promoting peace and stability in the region. Referring to recent regional tensions, he highlighted Pakistan's firm and effective response to Indian aggression, said that the events clearly exposed the strategic alliance between India and Israel. The Speaker has also stated that a successful outcome for Iran and Pakistan in these turbulent times would further solidify their bilateral partnership. He pointed out that India's negative and unconstructive role in the Iran-Israel conflict provides Iran with an opportunity to reconsider its diplomatic and strategic ties with India. He also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of over 50,000 Palestinian lives due to Israeli aggression, calling it a tragedy that has deeply affected every Pakistani. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Statute and salvation
Listen to article In a moment of historic magnitude and noble resolve, the Parliament of Pakistan has enacted the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Act 2025, a legislative triumph in the pursuit of justice, equality and preservation of childhood. By raising the minimum legal age of marriage to eighteen years for both young men and women within the federal capital, this enlightened decree supplants the antiquated ordinance of 1929, a relic of colonial jurisprudence. This bill, advanced with conviction by the member of the National Assembly, Ms Sharmila Faruqui, and championed with eloquence in the Senate by Senator Sherry Rehman, met stiff resistance from conservative quarters who claimed its incompatibility with religious and cultural tenets. Yet, the force of reason triumphed, notably drawing strength from the province of Sindh, where a similar statute has withstood the test of time since 2014. Even the Council of Islamic Ideology, the highest body of religious deliberation in the land, had previously given its assent to Sindh's reform, thereby rendering obsolete the theological objections to the federal measure. Under the auspices of the 2025 Act, any nuptial arrangement involving individuals below the age of maturity is henceforth unlawful within the jurisdiction of Islamabad. Nikah registrars are now duty-bound to authenticate the ages of both parties through national identity documents issued by NADRA. Those who dare defy the law — be they officiants, adult men preying upon minors, or conspirators enabling such unions — shall face stringent punishment, including imprisonment of up to three years and pecuniary penalties scaling to one million rupees. More significantly, the law designates all conjugal relations with a minor as statutory rape, regardless of consent or marital sanction. This legislative deliverance is not merely timely; it is imperative. According to the 2023 Demographic and Health Survey, nearly 28.9 per cent of Pakistani girls are wed before they attain the age of eighteen, while 4 per cent are forced into matrimony before the tender age of fifteen. Such unions, forged in coercion and cloaked in custom, breed domestic violence, maternal mortality and educational deprivation. Though limited in geographical application, the reverberations of this statute are felt far and wide. It heralds a new era wherein the voice of conscience may triumph over the outdated traditions. Provinces such as Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where child marriage remains alarmingly prevalent, must now reflect upon their own legislative inertia and consider whether silence in the face of national reform is a tenable position. A consensus across the republic must now be forged. The provinces must harmonise their legal frameworks with the capital's enlightened statute, thereby affording equal protection to every child beneath the crescent and star. The state must invest in grand campaigns to enlighten families and communities about the grievous costs of premature marriage. The machinery of justice must be fortified with special courts and trained officers capable of swift intervention and resolute enforcement. Moreover, the nation must extend its hand to those vulnerable girls who stand at the precipice of such fates, offering them the sanctuaries of education, psychological support and shelter. Community leaders should emphasise the importance of every child's dignity and protection The latest turn in the saga of the bill reveals that the Council of Islamic Ideology has challenged the Act as un-Islamic, and a petition in the Federal Shariat Court now seeks its annulment on constitutional and religious grounds. The bill's landmark move to ban child marriage and set the legal age at 18 marks a major victory for child rights yet faces constitutional challenges and implementation hurdles that will determine its true effectiveness.
Business Recorder
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Environmental awareness: NA speaker highlights parliament's role
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has said the provision of a clean, green, and safe environment is a fundamental right of future generations, and environmental protection is a shared responsibility. 'Although Pakistan contributes merely 0.5 per cent to global greenhouse gas emissions, it remains among the countries most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change,' the speaker expressed these views in his message on the occasion of World Environment Day, observed annually on June 5 under the auspices of the United Nations. The speaker said that rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall patterns, glacial melting, and natural disasters such as floods are having a profound impact on Pakistan's environment—posing grave threats not only to the economy but also to human life. He warned that the current situation could hinder the achievement of sustainable development goals unless timely and integrated measures are taken. Speaker Sadiq also added that the Parliament of Pakistan has always played a pivotal role in promoting environmental awareness and enacting legislation related to environmental protection. He added that relevant committees remain actively engaged in this regard, and several initiatives have been proposed across the country, including afforestation drives, preservation of water resources, mitigation of air pollution, and promotion of environmental education. He stated that Pakistan's Parliament has made significant contributions towards formulating effective legislation and policies aimed at combating climate change and promoting environmental sustainability. The passage of the Pakistan Climate Change Act, 2017, and the ratification of the Paris Agreement 2015 stand as testament to the country's commitment to achieving global environmental targets. In this regard, the speaker also urged the international community to extend their support to developing countries such as Pakistan that, despite contributing minimally to global emissions, they bear the brunt of climate-related disasters. He stressed that climate justice demands a collective and equitable response to ensure a sustainable future for all. On this occasion, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah remarked that environmental pollution poses a serious threat not only to public health but also to biodiversity, agricultural output, and the national economy. He emphasised that safeguarding the environment is not solely the responsibility of the government or institutions—every citizen must play their part. He called upon the youth to adopt eco-friendly practices and actively contribute to the mission of making the planet a safer place. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Viral video: Pakistan's Bilawal Bhutto's speech evokes memories of Rosesh from Sarabhai vs Sarabhai
Fans are drawing comparisons between Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Rosesh, a character from the famous sitcom Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai, after a video of Pakistan's former foreign minister went viral on social media. The footage, which shows a part of a speech given by Bhutti at the Pakistan National Assembly, has left social media in stitches. 'Roshesh from Sarabhai vs Sarabhai,' an X user wrote while sharing the video. Bilawal Bhutto gave the speech at the Parliament of Pakistan on May 7. The speech came after Operation Sindoor. An op launched by India targeting nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir as a retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack. An individual wrote, 'Totally, I can see the resemblance.' Another added, 'New meme template.' A third posted, 'Such striking similarities. I was wondering where last I'd heard this exact accent.' A fourth remarked, 'Perfect caption.' Following the deadly Pahalgam attack on April 22 that claimed 26 lives, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty as part of its five punitive actions against Pakistan. Soon after, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari made threatening remarks on April 25. 'I would like to stand here in Sukkur by the Indus and tell India that the Indus is ours and the Indus will remain ours, whether water flows in this Indus or their blood,' Zardari said while addressing a group of protesters. However, in May, he backtracked on his threatening bloodshed remarks and stated that Pakistan was open to peace with India. During an address at Pakistan's National Assembly, he said, 'If India wishes to walk the path of peace, let them come with open hands and not clenched fists. Let them come with facts and not fabrication. Let us sit as neighbours and speak the truth.'
Business Recorder
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Int'l Workers' Day: Working class is backbone of national progress, development: NA Speaker
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said the working class is the backbone of national progress and development, and safeguarding their rights is a shared responsibility of all segments of society. He stated that Islam has conferred a high status upon labourers, quoting the holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who said: 'Allah loves the person who earns through honest labour and seeks lawful sustenance.' These remarks were made by the speaker in his message on the occasion of International Workers' Day, observed globally on May 1st to honour the sacrifices and contributions of workers. Speaker Sadiq paid tribute to the martyrs of the Chicago labour movement who laid down their lives for the protection of workers' rights. He said 'this day serves as a reminder of our commitment to uplift the dignity, welfare, safety, and living standards of labourers across the nation.' He reiterated that a prosperous and stable Pakistan is due to the dedication, resilience, and hard work of its labour force. He stated that the Parliament of Pakistan is fully committed to protecting the rights of workers and ensuring they receive a dignified standard of living. He reaffirmed the resolve that every possible step will be taken for the welfare, safety, and legal protection of the labour class. He highlighted that the National Assembly recently passed the Workers' Rights Protection Bill 2025, which ensures the implementation of government-mandated minimum wages, mandatory worker registration, and workplace safety measures. He urged all political parties and relevant institutions to play an active role in legislating and shaping policies aimed at the betterment of workers' lives. On this occasion, Deputy Speaker National Assembly Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah remarked that 'Labour Day reminds us of the historic struggles and sacrifices made by workers.' He emphasised that 'the dream of a developed Pakistan cannot be realised without empowering and supporting the labour force.' He stated that the Parliament has always remained steadfast in its commitment to the protection and welfare of workers through effective legislation. He reaffirmed that the dignity, respect, and rights of workers will be ensured at every level of governance. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
