During 320^th session, the Senate neither passed any bill nor any bill was introduced. Only five (5) government bills were introduced on August 18 which were passed by the National Assembly. All these bills were referred to the concerned committees. These bills include: The National Highways Safety (Amendment) Bill, 2022, The Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment) Bill, 2022, The Iqbal Academy Pakistan Bill, 2022, The Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and The Pakistan Tobacco Board (Amendment) Bill, 2022. Neither any Ordinance was extended nor laid during the whole session.

Points of Public Importance

The major issues that were discussed during the session included the alleged torture on Dr. Shehbaz Gill in police custody, recent hikes in petroleum prices and the destructions caused by flood.

In total 11 members spoke on the issue of Dr. Gill for 1 hour and 23 minutes. Senator Dr. Shahzad Waseem (Punjab, PTI) fiercely criticized the government for alleged torture on Dr. Shahbaz Gill and claimed that the government wanted a statement of its choice from him while Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar insisted that the legal way was adopted to obtain physical remand of Mr. Gill. On August 19, 2022, 3 members spoke for about 13 minutes on the issue of custody of Dr. Gill to police from the hospital.

The treasury benches also criticized the PTI for allegedly running campaigns against the Pakistan Army. Senator Sherry Rehman (Sindh, PPPP), Federal Minister, Climate Change praised the army for risking lives in relief and rescue operations in flood-hit areas and slammed PTI over alleged trends against the armed forces. Total eight members spoke on this issue for approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes.[1]

On August 17, 2022, thirteen members spoke on recent price hike in petroleum products for almost 1 hour and 20 minutes. Most of the Senators from both sides of treasury and opposition benches rejected this hike in petroleum prices and demanded the government to give relief to the people. Senator Irfan-ul-Haque Siddiqui (Punjab, PML-N) said this increase could not be defended as it leads to poverty and hunger. Senator Saadia Abbasi (Punjab, PML-N)  while expressing alarm over hike in petroleum prices proposed a discussion on this issue, followed by voting to see if the house accepts or disapproves the increase which was welcomed by the PTI. Senator Mian Raza Rabbani (Sindh, PPPP) blasted the elite in all major parties for “playing a game with the masses”. He said the agreements with the IMF by the previous PTI government and the present government should be placed before the parliament in order to keep informed the parliament.[2]

On the issue of destructions caused by floods, seven members spoke for about 34 minutes and demanded the government to give relief to the affected people. Four members spoke on the terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for almost 20 minutes. The Question Hour was also dispensed with on August 17, 2022 and Senator Dr. Shahzad Waseem raised this issue and in total 3 members spoke on this issue for about 10 minutes.

Other issues that were discussed during the session for a brief time included illegal seat occupation by Chairman Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, non-laying of forensic audit report of funds released for merged districts by KP Government, and concerns of media person over suspension of ARY News.

Questions & Answers

 During 320^th session, the following questions were asked and their replies were given.

1. Senator Fawzia Arshad (Islamabad Capital Territory, PTI) asked question from the Interior Minister about the status of all public and private housing societies and towns that existed in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) since last ten years, whether they are legal or illegal and their NOCs status. Senator Shahadat Awan (Sindh, PPPP), Minister of State, Law and Justice replied that 117 cooperative societies are illegal and notices have been sent to them and few of them have approached the Courts for stay order.
2. On a supplementary question asked by Senator Molana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri (Balochistan, JUIP) Senator Shahadat Awan responded that it is the responsibility of the government to check facilities offered by the cooperative societies and there is an annual audit on it to ensure provision of all basic facilities to the residents.
3. Senator Fawzia Arshad asked about the reasons of delay in the construction of Korang Bridge Underpass Project on Islamabad. Senator Shahadat Awan replied that due to un-precedent price hikes in construction material, the contractor slowed down the work. With the mutual consent of the previous contractor, the government gave the contract to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) which will complete the project in 4 months below the cost that was required to pay the previous contractor. She also asked the question about the number of vendor licenses issued to street vendors and eco-friendly carts in Islamabad funded under the Ehsaas Program indicating criteria for issuance of vendor licenses/permits. Senator Awan replied that the total number of licenses issued to Ehsas Rehri Baan is 127 in various sectors of Islamabad.
4. Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi (KP, PPPP) asked about the reasons of decline of international ranking of green passport in last three years and the steps taken by the government in this regard. Senator Shahadat Awan responded that Pakistan is at the third last ranking in last three years. The ranking is based upon visa free score of a country (number of destinations for which no visa is required). The Government of Islamic Republic of Pakistan has made Visa Abolition Agreement with 46 countries across the world for its different categories of Passport. Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi also asked about the number of foreigners who have obtained Pakistan’s CNICs and Passports during the last three years. Senator Shahadat Awan replied that 181 CNICs issued to non-nationals have been cancelled during last three years. However, cases of 8152 individuals are under process of National status verification.
5. Senator Mushtaq Ahmed (KP, JIP) asked supplementary question about the steps and actions being taken by the Government to control the increase in organized and professional beggary under the patronage of groups and the details of centers established by the Government of Pakistan for the rehabilitation and shelter of women and children involved in beggary. Senator Shahadat Awan replied that steps taken include: establishment of 2 Anti-Beggary Squads, control room at Rescue 15, the patrolling system within ICT has been revamped and SHO’s of all the Police Stations within ICT have been strictly directed to utilize their mobiles. Furthermore, he explained that during last three years from 2020-2022, total 879 cases were registered under Vagrancy Act, 32788 beggars were arrested and 897 were being punished. The Government has established shelter homes in Islamabad for poor and needy people. Moreover, a child protection center has been 8 established at Humak Model Town Sihalla Islamabad and a child center and Edhi Home is also established in H-9 Islamabad for rehabilitation of women and children.
6. Senator Mushtaq Ahmed also asked a question about the total number of NADRA centres, employees and total number of mobile units working in newly merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Senator Shahadat Awan responded that there are 37 NADRA centres and a total of 268 employees and 7 mobile registration vans that are working in these areas.
7. Senator Rana Mahmood ul Hassan (Punjab, PML-N) asked about the salient features of policy/rules that govern the regulation of VIP and VVIP routes/traffic in Islamabad indicating the dignitaries who are entitled to such facility and whether emergency route clearance is available to ambulances during deployment of VIP route. Upon which Senator Shahadat Awan responded that Route clearance/security duties for VVIPs/VIPs are being provided as per Blue Book Chapter-VI which also carries salient features in writing. He also informed that the emergency route clearance for ambulances is available during VVIP/VIP routes.

 

References

[1] Iftikhar A. Khan, “Senators spar over anti-army campaign amid PTI walkout,” Dawn Online, August 19, 2022, accessed October 10, 2022, https://www.dawn.com/news/1705654/senators-spar-over-anti-army-campaign-amid-pti-walkout.

[2] Iftikhar A. Khan, “Senate sees rare unity in debate on petrol prices,” Dawn Online, August 18, 2022, accessed October 13, 2022, https://www.dawn.com/news/1705474/senate-sees-rare-unity-in-debate-on-petrol-prices