ISLAMABAD National Assembly Wednesday unanimously passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2009 to provide protection to women against harassment at workplace and fixed maximum 3 years imprisonment if anyone found guilty of crime. Minister for Law and Justice Muhammad Afzal Sindhu moved the bill to the House and all of its three clauses were passed unanimously. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan said that passage of the bill would go a long way in protecting women at their workplaces. He said that Peoples Party had always struggled for the empowerment of women and protection of their rights. Commenting on the bill, MNA Anusha Rehman said the bill would help women perform better in a secure environment. She said the bill had empowered women to register complains in police station against the people harassing them. She asked the Speaker to advise the Interior Ministry for its implementation. MNA Sherry Rehman said the bill also provided security to the domestic servants. She thanked the MNAs who played a vital role in authoring the bill. She suggested making Women Commission autonomous providing it more funds. She stressed for publicising the bill. MNA Haidar Abbas Rizvi said the bill in a male-dominated society was appreciable but some people were trying to give its credit to PPP only. He called for its implementation. MNA Riaz Hussain Pirzada congratulated Sherry Rehman for her efforts in motivating the parliamentarian for passing the bill. However, he said the bill could be misused so the Ministry of Law and Justice should reconsider it before its implementation. PPP MNA Ijaz Virk, however, said the Council of Islamic Ideology had some reservations over the bill but the government had ignored them. He said the council had said the bill would increase the divorce ratio in the country and would reduce the job opportunities for the women. Terming it a double edge weapon, Virk said, I am afraid of the day when we will have to pass 'Husband Protection Bill. MNA Bushra Gohar was of the view that the Hadood Ordinance and Council of the Islamic Ideology should be dissolved. She said the council had always spoken against women. Speaking on the point of order, MNA Raza Hayat Hiraj said the rice grower of southern Punjab and Sindh were worried about the sale of their crop, as no one was ready to buy it. He also pointed out that sugar mills had not started crushing. However, Minister for Food and Agriculture Nazar Gondal informed the House that the government would procure one million ton rice from growers while 50 sale points had been opened. MNA Ameer Muqam said sugar was being sold at Rs 120 per kg in NWFP and a number of hotels had been closed due to sugar shortage. He alleged that DCOs were providing sugar only to their favourites from their quotas. MNA Hanif Abbasi alleged that some government employees were being involved in upcoming Gilgit-Baltistans elections. However, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan denied it and assured that government machinery would not become a part of elections. However, the atmosphere of the House at once became hot when replying to a point of order from MNA Sheikh Waqas Akram, Minister for Railways Haji Ghulam Bilour said that a transporter from Jhang was involve in setting a train on fire in Jhang during a protest against load-shedding. It is worth mentioning here that Sheikh Waqas Akram himself is a leading transporter of Jhang. However, Sheikh Waqas said this was not the right way to reply the question. The Minister, he said, should first see the investigation report before blaming him. He said the Interior Minister had himself informed the House that a banned outfit was involve in this crime.