Ban imposed on unclaimed kids’ adoption, NA told
By Uzma Zafar

ISLAMABAD—Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sher Afghan Niazi on Friday told National Assembly that one year ban has been imposed on adoption of orphan children.
Sher Afghan Niazi told NA that the orphan children are being taken care by the Ministry of Welfare Organization and such children are being formally registered whereas NADRA is preparing database and information regarding children can be found through a website too.
On the call attention notice of Mehreen Anwar Raja, Yasmeen Rehman, Shamshad Sattar Bachani and Khurshid Shah, Minister said that government is taking the responsibility of orphan children and they are under a strict vigilance.
“So far the number of orphan children is 31 and a proper system is maintained to hand over the children to their relatives”, he told.
He further told NA that the child which pop singer Hadiqa Kiyani adopted is not from the affectees of killer earthquake of October 8, but is a Love Child.
Replying to a query, he said that without identification no child would be handed over to any one. It is methodically checked by NADRA. Then Handing Over Certificate is being issued to the persons who adopt the child.
He further told NA that government has set up SOS villages on district levels but quake-affected children will not be kept there.
He added that all the expenditures will be beared by Ministry of Welfare Organization regarding education, living and other basic amenities.
“The total number of orphan children have drastically decreased to 31 from 100 which is a good sign”, he underlined.
He informed the National Assembly the Federal Ministers and ministers of state have donated their one month’s salaries and allowances to earthquake relief fund.
Speaking on a point of order raised by MMA Liaquat Baloch that the ministers have failed to contribute in the fund, Sher Afgan said their salaries and allowances have been deducted at source.
“Since the ministers don’t take salaries from the National Assembly as members rather they draw it from Cabinet Division, these have been deducted at source,” he added.
Liaquat Baloch referred to the National Assembly’s relief committee meeting on Thursday presided over by the Speaker, where it was raised that the ministers should also contribute to the fund along with the other members.
Deputy Speaker Sardar Yaqoob, who was chairing the session, said the matter will be looked into and ensured that the ministers contributions reach the relief fund.
Opposition strongly protested against President not addressing the National Assembly session and delay on the part of federal ministers and state ministers to submit their one-month salary and allowances in President’s Relief Fund (PRF) to help quake-affectees. Speaking on the point of order during National Assembly session on Friday, MMA MNA Liaquat Baloch said that it is learnt in the meeting of National Assembly Relief Committee that MNAs have submitted their one-month salary and allowances for affectees in PRF but the federal ministers and state ministers have not yet given their salaries and allowances.
He noted that though masses are not satisfied with ministers performance but they (ministers) should participate in human welfare task. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Shir Afgan Niazi said that Ministers salaries had been forwarded in PRF to help affectees.
He noted that President General Pervez Musharraf will not address National Assembly unless opposition stops mayhem in lower house. He said that NA proceeding is underway in accordance with the constitution and if opposition has reservations on it then it should lodge complaint with Speaker.
Minister of State for Law Shahid Akram Bhinder said that Ministers had offered salaries and allowances in PRF prior to the tabling of resolution in this regard in the Assembly. Abdul Mujeeb Pirzada of Opposition said that government has made the Parliament rubber-stamp, as its proceeding is not being held according to constitution.
He noted that government has failed to resolve quorum matter in the lower house, as MNAs do not take interest to attend session.