Two govt bills introduced in National Assembly.

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Monday witnessed introduction of two government bills which were referred to the relevant committees for further consideration. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi introduced the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2023. Both bills were referred to the relevant committee for further consideration. The Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals (Amendment) Bill, 2023 aims to transfer implementation of the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021 from the Ministry of Human Rights to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Whereas, the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to substitute the words "Federal Government" with the words "Prime Minister" wherever occurring in the Press, Newspaper, News Agencies and Book Registration Ordinance, 2002. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi also presented the report on the observance and implementation of principles of policy in relation to the affairs of the federation for the years 2013-14 to 2017-18 and for the years 2018-19 to 2019-20.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Interior Abdul Rehman Khan Kanju informed the National Assembly that street crimes in the Federal Capital had decreased due to the steps taken by the government. Responding to a calling attention notice regarding increase in crimes in Islamabad, particularly against women, he said the Eagle Squad had been established in the Capital to check street crime and after the introduction of force, the crimes had considerably decreased in the areas.

The minister said it was the top priority of the government to safeguard movement of women in the Capital's parks and public places. About the F-9 Park, he said...