Mai to be provided legal assistance for case review, says Malik

ISLAMABAD - Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Friday held out assurance to the National Assembly that the government would provide security and legal assistance to Mukhtaran Mai for managing review of her case in the court. The Prime Minister has directed me to provide proper security and legal assistance to Mukhtaran Mai. I will contact the high-ups of Punjab Police to provide her with proper security. We will also give her legal assistance according to her wish, the Interior Minister said while responding to Sherry Rehman in the NA. Earlier, Sherry Rehman on the point of order said that after the Supreme Courts decision into her (Mukhtaran Mai) case, some of the accused were freely wandering, as only one was sentenced to life imprisonment. The government should provide security and legal assistance to her, she demanded. Central leader of MQM Haidar Abbas Rizvi pointed out that a former secretary was trying to give compensation amount of Rs 17 billion of Diamir Bhasha Dam to a single local tribe while depriving other people living in the area. He alleged that the remaining land was also given to the same tribe. He requested the Prime Minister, who is soon going to visit the area, to investigate the matter. However, Minister for Water and Power Naveed Qamar assured the House that Ministry of KANA and Water and Power would ensure transparent division of compensation among the people of the area. Chairman PPP-S Aftab Sherpao however took up the matter of law and order situation in Kurram Agency and told the House that eight dead bodies out of 40 kidnapped people had been handed over to political agent of the area. He urged the government to take steps to rescue remaining 32 kidnapped people. Earlier, the Lower House also passed the amendment in rule 154 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007, for sub-rule (7), the following would be substituted namely: if a Bill transmitted to the Senate is rejected or not passed within 90 days of its laying the the Senate, or is passed by the Senate with amendment but not passed by the Assembly with such amendment, any Minister, in case of a Government bill, or, in any other case, any member may, after giving two days notie, move t hat bill be considered in a joint sitting.

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