The federal cabinet, which met here under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, on Wednesday approved the Criminal Law Amendment (protection of women) Bill 2006 for laying it before the National Assembly.<br />
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Briefing the media on the cabinet meeting, Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani said it has approved, in principle, the Criminal Law Amendment (protection of women) Bill 2006 for laying it before the National Assembly.<br />
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鎻宱wever, a five-member committee headed by Law Minister Wasi Zafar would further review the Bill,?he added. The new law would change the 27-year-old laws, said the minister. He said that the new law deals with amendments to the Hudood Ordinance, as the existing laws are controversial. 鎻憈 will remove hurdles to the provision of justice to women,?Durrani said.<br />
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The bill is expected to go before parliament next week. Prime Minister Aziz last week had said the government would change laws where necessary to ensure justice and security for women and bring the legislation more in line with Islamic teachings.<br />
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As the government has banned the cabinet members from issuing statement on the government-Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) row, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the resignations of MQM legislators have not been accepted and all issues would be resolved amicably.<br />
<br />
The prime minister took the cabinet members into confidence on the issue and political crisis in the wake of the coalition partners?quitting spree at the Centre and in Sindh. Durrani said the resignations of MQM legislators were not accepted, and consultations are still on with the coalition partners to resolve the issues.<br />
<br />
The prime minister told the cabinet that the government wanted the coalition to move in tandem on all issues as it had been working successfully for the last four years, and added the coalition would keep working to strengthen the democratic institutions in future.<br />
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The prime minister also informed the cabinet that he had held a fruitful meeting with the Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Tuesday night. He said it has been decided that a meeting of coalition partners will be held on a fortnightly basis.<br />
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The information minister said the prime minister also held a meeting with Chief Minister Sindh Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim on Tuesday and discussed the issue in detail. Replying to a question, the information minister said the MQM leadership had already reiterated its unconditional support to the government as well as the policies of President General Pervez Musharraf.<br />
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鎻æ³esident Musharraf has directed not to accept the resignations. We are coalition partners and it is an internal issue of the coalition govt, which would be resolved amicably soon. Any speculation in this regard is wrong as the consultation process between the partners is going on,?he added.<br />
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Durrani said the cabinet strongly condemned the Israeli aggression against Lebanon and the killing of innocent people, including women and children.<br />
<br />
鎻焗e cabinet called for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities. While expressing solidarity with the people and the government of Lebanon, the cabinet said that the people and government of Pakistan stand by the people of Lebanon during this critical hour of need,?he said.<br />
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The government had sent four C-130 planes loaded with relief goods to Lebanon and would provide more aid as required by Lebanon.<br />
<br />
Pakistan, said the minister, called upon the UN, the OIC and the world community to play their role for an immediate ceasefire and restoration of peace in Lebanon. The cabinet observed that the world community could not stay indifferent to the daily killing of innocent civilians in Lebanon.<br />
<br />
The cabinet approved for initiating negotiations between ACD member countries on Mutual Recognition Agreement of Cooperation in the field of standardization and quality assurance. On the CCI meeting, the minister said the CCI decided to meet every six weeks as per the decision of the Supreme Court.<br />
<br />
Replying to another question, Senator Durrani said neither the opposition could table no-confidence motion nor it could launch an anti-government movement. 鎻焗e ARD had announced to table the no-confidence motion after July 31 but no action has been taken in this regard. I had already said that neither they have sufficient strength nor they will move for no-confidence. I advise them to shun such negative tactics to attract the media on a daily basis and wait for the next general elections,?he added.<br />
<br />
He also suggested the ARD leaders, living abroad, to avoid releasing irresponsible statements. The information minister said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had left for Kuala Lumpur to attend an extraordinary OIC meeting. 鎻焗e PM would represent Pakistani people at the OIC moot.<br />
<br />
He said Pakistan would use all available forums to raise the Lebanon issue. He said the Pakistan government was the first state to raise the issue. He stressed the need to resolve the core issue of Palestine.<br />
<br />
The cabinet also approved initiation of negotiations to conclude an agreement between Pakistan and Mexico to avoid double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes and income. This agreement will promote and further strengthen existing bilateral economic relations between the two countries.<br />
<br />
The cabinet granted permission to start negotiations in principle on draft agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters among ECO countries.The cabinet approved signing of a draft agreement between Pakistan and the UAE on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters.<br />
<br />
The cabinet agreed to grant approval, in principle, to start negotiations with the Republic of Yemen on abolition of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and official passports. Ex-post facto approval was granted for signing an MoU on cooperation in the field of earthquake studies between China Earthquake Administration and Pakistan Metrological Department. The MoU was signed during president鎶
<br />
Briefing the media on the cabinet meeting, Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani said it has approved, in principle, the Criminal Law Amendment (protection of women) Bill 2006 for laying it before the National Assembly.<br />
<br />
鎻宱wever, a five-member committee headed by Law Minister Wasi Zafar would further review the Bill,?he added. The new law would change the 27-year-old laws, said the minister. He said that the new law deals with amendments to the Hudood Ordinance, as the existing laws are controversial. 鎻憈 will remove hurdles to the provision of justice to women,?Durrani said.<br />
<br />
The bill is expected to go before parliament next week. Prime Minister Aziz last week had said the government would change laws where necessary to ensure justice and security for women and bring the legislation more in line with Islamic teachings.<br />
<br />
As the government has banned the cabinet members from issuing statement on the government-Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) row, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the resignations of MQM legislators have not been accepted and all issues would be resolved amicably.<br />
<br />
The prime minister took the cabinet members into confidence on the issue and political crisis in the wake of the coalition partners?quitting spree at the Centre and in Sindh. Durrani said the resignations of MQM legislators were not accepted, and consultations are still on with the coalition partners to resolve the issues.<br />
<br />
The prime minister told the cabinet that the government wanted the coalition to move in tandem on all issues as it had been working successfully for the last four years, and added the coalition would keep working to strengthen the democratic institutions in future.<br />
<br />
The prime minister also informed the cabinet that he had held a fruitful meeting with the Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Tuesday night. He said it has been decided that a meeting of coalition partners will be held on a fortnightly basis.<br />
<br />
The information minister said the prime minister also held a meeting with Chief Minister Sindh Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim on Tuesday and discussed the issue in detail. Replying to a question, the information minister said the MQM leadership had already reiterated its unconditional support to the government as well as the policies of President General Pervez Musharraf.<br />
<br />
鎻æ³esident Musharraf has directed not to accept the resignations. We are coalition partners and it is an internal issue of the coalition govt, which would be resolved amicably soon. Any speculation in this regard is wrong as the consultation process between the partners is going on,?he added.<br />
<br />
Durrani said the cabinet strongly condemned the Israeli aggression against Lebanon and the killing of innocent people, including women and children.<br />
<br />
鎻焗e cabinet called for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities. While expressing solidarity with the people and the government of Lebanon, the cabinet said that the people and government of Pakistan stand by the people of Lebanon during this critical hour of need,?he said.<br />
<br />
The government had sent four C-130 planes loaded with relief goods to Lebanon and would provide more aid as required by Lebanon.<br />
<br />
Pakistan, said the minister, called upon the UN, the OIC and the world community to play their role for an immediate ceasefire and restoration of peace in Lebanon. The cabinet observed that the world community could not stay indifferent to the daily killing of innocent civilians in Lebanon.<br />
<br />
The cabinet approved for initiating negotiations between ACD member countries on Mutual Recognition Agreement of Cooperation in the field of standardization and quality assurance. On the CCI meeting, the minister said the CCI decided to meet every six weeks as per the decision of the Supreme Court.<br />
<br />
Replying to another question, Senator Durrani said neither the opposition could table no-confidence motion nor it could launch an anti-government movement. 鎻焗e ARD had announced to table the no-confidence motion after July 31 but no action has been taken in this regard. I had already said that neither they have sufficient strength nor they will move for no-confidence. I advise them to shun such negative tactics to attract the media on a daily basis and wait for the next general elections,?he added.<br />
<br />
He also suggested the ARD leaders, living abroad, to avoid releasing irresponsible statements. The information minister said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had left for Kuala Lumpur to attend an extraordinary OIC meeting. 鎻焗e PM would represent Pakistani people at the OIC moot.<br />
<br />
He said Pakistan would use all available forums to raise the Lebanon issue. He said the Pakistan government was the first state to raise the issue. He stressed the need to resolve the core issue of Palestine.<br />
<br />
The cabinet also approved initiation of negotiations to conclude an agreement between Pakistan and Mexico to avoid double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes and income. This agreement will promote and further strengthen existing bilateral economic relations between the two countries.<br />
<br />
The cabinet granted permission to start negotiations in principle on draft agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters among ECO countries.The cabinet approved signing of a draft agreement between Pakistan and the UAE on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters.<br />
<br />
The cabinet agreed to grant approval, in principle, to start negotiations with the Republic of Yemen on abolition of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and official passports. Ex-post facto approval was granted for signing an MoU on cooperation in the field of earthquake studies between China Earthquake Administration and Pakistan Metrological Department. The MoU was signed during president鎶