Tag: Senate

  • Govt’s efforts fail, Senator Irfan Siddiqui confirms constitutional amendments postponed indefinitely

    Govt’s efforts fail, Senator Irfan Siddiqui confirms constitutional amendments postponed indefinitely

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Irfan Siddiqui has confirmed that the government’s late-night hustling and manoeuvring to get JUI-F president Fazal ur Rehman onboard to pass the constitutional amendments have failed, and the amendments have been postponed indefinitely.

    Siddiqui, while talking to Geo News, revealed that the government might take a week or ten days to pass the amendments.

    It should be noted that the draft constitutional amendments were to be presented in yesterday’s parliament session, but the government failed to get the magic number to pass the legislation, so the sessions were adjourned for today.

    While today’s sessions of both houses of parliament will be postponed indefinitely, Siddiqui said, “Our numbers are complete, and not being able to pass the amendments is certainly not a failure.”

    “I do not see any big difference in it, and even if the amendments do not take place, it won’t be a doomsday,” said the senior senator.

    He also said that the problem isn’t with the number of votes but some difference of opinion on some points in the proposed amendments, “which is the right of each political party.”

    Irfan Siddiqui confirmed that Fazal ur Rehman has asked for some time to study the details of the draft.

  • Govt struggles to pass constitutional amendments as JUI-F resists

    Govt struggles to pass constitutional amendments as JUI-F resists

    The incumbent federal government has yet to secure a two-thirds majority in Parliament to approve a controversial constitutional package.

    Despite the government’s claim of having the requisite magic number in the Senate, the government is struggling to pass the amendments. Chief Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Maulana Fazlur Rehman, is resisting voting in favour of the government.

    The magic number to pass the constitutional package in the Senate (Upper House) is sixty-four, whereas the coalition government has confirmed fifty-nine votes.

    Ziauddin and Abdul Moiz Malik

    Meanwhile, JUI-F has five votes in the Senate.

    The government has not shared the constitutional package draft with any party, including Chief JUI-F Rehman, upon which he said, “It is a sensitive issue which should be discussed calmly.”

    Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (NA) Omer Ayub Khan said, “They (the government) have no draft with them, and they did not know what to discuss.”

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf declared the constitutional package “a serious piece of legislation” and advised the government not to act hastily.

    The Senate meeting is expected at 12:30 PM today.

  • Bill tabled in Senate to increase number of Supreme Court judges to 21

    Bill tabled in Senate to increase number of Supreme Court judges to 21

    Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir has introduced the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill in the Senate, proposing to increase the number of Supreme Court judges from 17 to 21.

    Lawmaker Qadir explained that the purpose of the amendment is to ensure quicker justice and to address the fifty-three thousand pending cases in the apex court. He emphasized that the amendment would significantly improve the judicial system’s efficiency.

    He also noted that billions of rupees in cases have remained unresolved due to the shortage of judges in the superior court and the lack of available time.

    The opposition, however, expressed concerns over the proposed amendment, arguing that it would favour the incumbent government and called it a “judiciary coup.”

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentary leader Barrister Ali Zafar advised the government to focus on reforming the lower judiciary rather than increasing the number of judges in the apex court.

    Law Minister Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar said, “Massive reforms are being introduced in the criminal procedure code, from registration of FIR to manner of arrest and discharge, and timelines in the material and sessions trial to the use of the modern device in the law of evidence,”

  • Taxpayers have paid over Rs 927 million on Parliament’s renovation

    Taxpayers have paid over Rs 927 million on Parliament’s renovation

    The Interior Ministry on Thursday revealed that over Rs 927 million have been spent on the makeover of the National Parliament infrastructure over the past five years, ARY News reported.

    According to the report, the interior ministry said that Rs 108 million was spent on renovation in 2019-20.

    Over Rs 171 million in 2020-21, Rs 286 million in 2021-22, Rs 302 million in 2022-23, and Rs 60 million was spent on the renovation in 2023-24.

    The National Parliament is made up of the Senate (Upper House) and the National Assembly (Lower House).

    Last year, ex-Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani also constituted a parliamentary committee to rename the building to something that aligns with Pakistan’s cultural heritage.

  • PTI decides to field activist Sanam Javed for women’s seat in Senate

    PTI decides to field activist Sanam Javed for women’s seat in Senate

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI) has decided to field its jailed activist Sanam Javed for the women’s seat in the upcoming senate polls while incarcerated leader Dr Yasmin Rashid will contest the election for the technocrat seat in the Upper House.

    Party leader Mian Aslam Iqbal announced that Hamid Khan and Zulfi Bukhari are candidates for general seats in Punjab while Umar Sarfaraz Cheema and Col (retd) Ijaz Minhas will serve as covering candidates for the general seats.

    Meanwhile, today is the last date for submitting nomination papers for the Senate elections on general seats. The returning officers will be accepting the nominations till 5pm. The scrutiny of the nomination papers would be completed by March 19, while by March 21, appeals can be filed against the acceptance or rejection of the nomination papers. 

    Furthermore, authorities will issue decisions on the appeals by March 25. Polling will take place in both the provincial and national assemblies on April 2 from 9 am to 4 pm.

  • Senator withdraws resolution to ban Social Media in Pakistan

    Senator withdraws resolution to ban Social Media in Pakistan

    Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi has withdrawn his resolution aimed at imposing a blanket ban on several major social media platforms in the country.

    The resolution, which sparked controversy before its introduction in the house, called for the government to prohibit access to Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, citing concerns over their perceived negative impact on the younger generation.

    Even before reaching the floor of the house, Tangi’s resolution faced significant criticism from digital rights activists and journalists.

    Critics argued that the proposed ban would further restrict freedom of expression in Pakistan. The timing of the resolution’s emergence added to its contentious nature, coinciding with ongoing disruptions to access X following allegations of electoral rigging during the February 8 polls.

    Senator Brahmand Tangi, who was expelled by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) one month ago, had moved a resolution in the senate asking that all social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram be banned in Pakistan to protect the next generation from what he has dubbed their “negative and devastating” effects.

    Tangi was expelled by the PPP last month after he went against party policy and remained silent on a resolution asking for delay in Balochistan and KP general elections. However, DAWN has reported that the party has till now not moved a reference against him.
    The resolution has alleged that social media platforms were being used to promote norms “against our culture and religion” and creating hatred among the general populace.

    The document also charges the platforms with being used to run “malicious” campaigns against the army and spreading fake news.
    PPP has said that the senator should not use the party’s name anymore, swiftly distancing itself from the controversial resolution. Nonetheless, it will be on Monday’s agenda.

    Senator Tangi is set to retire on March 11.

  • HRCP condemns Senator’s proposal to ban social media

    HRCP condemns Senator’s proposal to ban social media

    The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has opposed a proposed Senate resolution seeking a ban on social media platforms.

    The rights body has warned the members of the senate that such “ill-judged measures that violate people’s constitutional right to freedom of expression” represent an erosion of democracy.

    HRCP released the statement on Sunday, a day after it was reported that the Senate is going to discuss today (Monday) a resolution moved by Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi calling for a complete ban on some social media sites—X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

    Tangi was expelled by the PPP last month. The senator is set to retire on March 11.

    His resolution had argued that the platforms are adversely affecting the younger generation in the country as they are being used to promote norms that are against religion and culture. “[The platforms are also] creating hatred among the people on the grounds of language and religion,” it said.

    The resolution also “noted with concern” the use of such platforms against the interest of the country for spreading negative and malicious propaganda against the armed forces of Pakistan.

    “The HRCP calls on civil society and digital rights activists to mobilise against all efforts to impose such arbitrary curbs, including reports of a ban on all VPNs, and demands that X be restored immediately,” the statement said.

    Previously, Senator Brahmand Tangi, who was expelled by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) one month ago, had moved a resolution in the senate asking that all social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, YouTube and Instagram be banned in Pakistan to protect the next generation from what he has dubbed their “negative and devastating” effects.

    Tangi was expelled by the PPP last month after he went against party policy and remained silent on a resolution asking for delay in Balochistan and KP general elections. However, DAWN has reported that the party has till now not moved a reference against him.

    The resolution has alleged that social media platforms were being used to promote norms “against our culture and religion” and creating hatred among the general populace.

    The document also charges the platforms with being used to run “malicious” campaigns against the army and spreading fake news.

    PPP has said that the senator should not use the party’s name anymore, swiftly distancing itself from the controversial resolution. Nonetheless, it will be on Monday’s agenda.

    Senator Tangi is set to retire on March 11.

  • Senate receives another proposal for postponement of February 8 polls

    Independent Senator Hidayatullah presented a new resolution on Friday calling for the postponement of the upcoming general elections scheduled for February 8. He urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to consider delaying the polls by three months.

    The resolution was formally submitted to the Senate Secretariat by Hidayatullah, representing the Independent Parliamentary Group.

    Senator Hidayatullah’s resolution also highlights the recent surge in violent attacks within the country, along with an increase in incidents targeting election candidates.

    On the other hand, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Thursday requested a senate session to ensure that general elections, scheduled to take place on February 8, 2024, proceed in a timely fashion, The News has reported.

    PTI senator Ali Zafar took signatures of senate members on a requisition to conduct a session to discuss the matter of holding elections on time. PPP and Jamaat-e-Islami supported the initiative.

    According to the requisition, Pakistan can’t afford political instability. To strengthen democracy, polls should be conducted on time.

    On January 5, the sparsely attended senate passed a resolution in favour of a postponement of the general elections.

    Majority of the lawmakers present in the legislature had approved the resolution — seeking polls delay in the light of extreme weather in hilly areas and deteriorating security situation — moved by independent lawmaker Senator Dilawar Khan.

    Only 14 senate members were present on the day when the resolution passed. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Afnanullah Khan and caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi had opposed the resolution, while PPP’s Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi and PTI’s Senator Gurdeep Singh remained silent.

    Senator Dilawar had also said that COVID-19 is still present, so elections should be postponed.

  • Enforced Disappearance Bill never went missing, claims Chairman Senate

    Enforced Disappearance Bill never went missing, claims Chairman Senate

    In response to recent speculations surrounding the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2021, the Senate Secretariat has issued a statement on Monday, debunking claims of the bill on enforced disappearances going “missing.”

    The Senate Secretariat clarified that the bill was duly passed by the National Assembly (NA) and subsequently returned to the NA after receiving approval from the Senate.

    https://twitter.com/OfficeSenate/status/1744311661509382327?s=20

    The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2021, designed to introduce amendments to the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Code of Criminal Procedure, received approval from the NA on November 8, 2021.

    Former human rights minister Shireen Mazari had previously voiced concerns about the bill’s status, suggesting that it had disappeared after being forwarded to the Senate.

    In its official statement, the Senate Secretariat refuted these claims, providing a detailed timeline of the bill’s progress. According to the Secretariat, the bill was initially introduced in the NA by the then-interior minister on January 7, 2021. After successfully passing the NA on November 8, 2021, the bill was transmitted to the Senate on November 10, 2021, adhering to constitutional and procedural requirements.

    Addressing the allegations raised by Shireen Mazari, the Senate Secretariat clarified that the bill was presented in the Senate on July 29, 2022. Subsequently, it was referred to the standing committee for a comprehensive consideration and report.

    “The Bill was passed by the Senate on 20th October, 2022 with some amendments. Accordingly, in pursuance of clause (2) of Article 70 of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 and rule 125 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012, the Bill was returned to the originating House, i.e. the National Assembly of Pakistan on 20th October, 2022,” the statement said.

    The Secretariat underscored that, by Article 70 of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973, and Rule 125 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012, the bill was returned to its originating House, the National Assembly, on October 20, 2022, after securing approval in the Senate.

    The statement concluded by emphasizing that the bill was never missing, and it is not currently pending in the Senate Secretariat. Instead, it has been appropriately returned to the National Assembly after completing the required legislative process in the Senate. The Senate Secretariat reiterated its commitment to upholding constitutional and procedural standards in handling legislative matters.

  • No signal from ‘any quarters’ to postpone upcoming polls, Solangi confirms

    No signal from ‘any quarters’ to postpone upcoming polls, Solangi confirms

    The federal Caretaker Minister for Information, Murtaza Solangi, stated on Friday that the interim government has not received any indication from any source to postpone the upcoming elections set to take place on February 8, 2024.

    Earlier on Friday, Senator Dilawar Khan tabled a resolution in the sparsely attended Upper House, which garnered the required support despite opposition from Information Minister Murtaza Solangi and Senator Afnan Ullah Khan of the Muslim League (N).

    Talking to journalists outside the Parliament House, Solangi said: “So far, no signal has been received from any quarters regarding the postponement of elections.”

    He also stated that only the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has the authority to postpone general elections.

    The minister believed that there were no instructions from interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar or the federal cabinet to postpone polls.

    According to Article 218(3) of the Constitution, ECPhas the power to conduct elections, give a date, or change the date for elections, he said.

    “We cannot interfere in the affairs of a constitutional body.”