ISLAMABAD: The Upper House of the Parliament witnessed the introduction of one government bill on Friday and presentation of a half-yearly report of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in respect of its activities.
Most of the agenda items were deferred due to an absence of relevant ministers or movers of various parliamentary interventions.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed introduced the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2017. The Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani referred the bill to the relevant department for further deliberations.
Sponsored by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Senator Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh, Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani rejected an adjournment motion regarding the system of taxes in Pakistan as revealed by recent Annual Flagship Report of World Bank.
According to the report, Pakistan stands at the 172nd position out of 190 countries in international ranking where the system of filing of tax returns has been made easy.
Chairman Standing Committee on Interior Affairs Senator Abdul Rehman Malik moved two motions under Rule 194 (1) seeking extensions of 30 days for presentation of reports on two legislative pieces including the Criminal Laws (Amendment) (Protection of Rights of Transgender Persons) Bill, 2017 and the Miscarriage of Justice (Compensation) Bill, 2017. Both motions were passed by the house after voice voting and extension of 30 days was granted.
A Calling Attention Notice regarding the suspension of automatic weapon licenses across the country was deferred due to the absence of the relevant minister.
Senate dropped another notice due to absence its sponsors, Senators Sherry Rehman and Sehar Kamran, regarding a proposal to sell out key assets of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) such as hotels in New York and Paris.
The winding up of discussion on the admitted adjournment motion regarding an increase in prices of petroleum products was also deferred due to the absence of concerned ministers.
Senate Chairman deferred the adjournment motion till Monday.