–Passes resolution recommending govt to launch Chinese language courses for CPEC
ISLAMABAD: The Upper House of the Parliament in its 273rd session held on Monday under the chair of Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani passed five bills and adopted three resolutions sponsored by private members.
The Senate chairman presided over the entire sitting while the deputy chairman was not present. The parliamentary leaders of Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P), Jamat-e-Islami (JI), Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Balochistan National Party – Mengal (BNP-M) and Awami National Party (ANP) attended the sitting. As many as 11 lawmakers (10% of the total membership – 104) were present at the outset and 13 (12%) at the end of the sitting. As many as two minority Senators attended the sitting.
Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights chairman presented the report of the Committee on the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2017.
The House dropped four private members’ bills due to the absence of the concerned lawmakers.
A lawmaker belonging to ANP introduced the Members of Parliament (Salaries and Allowances) (Amendment) Bill, 2018. The House referred the bill to the relevant standing committee for further deliberation.
The House passed the National Assembly Secretariat Employees Bill, 2018, The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2017, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Amendment) Bill, 2018 and the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2017.
The House was informed that the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2017 and the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill, 2017 had been received back from the standing committees and were awaiting notices for consideration.
The House unanimously passed a resolution recommending the government to stop the process of delimitations of constituencies in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and hold the 2018 elections on the previously delimitated constituencies. As many as twelve lawmakers, including the minister for parliamentary affairs, debated the resolution, consuming half an hour of the proceedings.
The House adopted a resolution recommending the government to launch Chinese language courses for Pakistanis in view of the growing collaboration between Pakistan and China under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). As many as 14 lawmakers voted in favour of the resolution and nine against it.
The House also adopted a resolution recommending the government to take necessary steps to set up separate branches of the National Bank of Pakistan in Tehsils Dadak and Kangri of District Musakhel, Balochistan.
As many as one private member’s resolution was deferred while another was dropped due to the absence of the concerned lawmakers.
The House debated a motion under Rule 218 regarding the government’s policy of banning the issuance of licenses for automatic weapons. As many as eight lawmakers debated the motion for half an hour. The interior minister would conclude the discussion in the next sitting.
The House also held a discussion on a motion under Rule 218 regarding an increase in cases of child abductions, rapes and murders in the country. As many as 12 lawmakers including the interior minister took part in the discussion that continued for an hour.
As many as two motions under Rule 218 were deferred and one was disposed of due to the absence of the concerned lawmakers.
The defence minister made a statement before the House regarding the Pakistan Army troops sent to Saudi Arabia. The lawmakers did not raise any point of order.
