Overview of 326th Session of the Senate

No bills were introduced or passed during the session. Similarly, no ordinance was laid or extended during the session. 

Special Commemorative Session

The Golden Jubilee session of the Senate concluded on March 17, 2023 after holding 3 sittings on March 15, 16 and 17. The Senate Chair converted the House into the ‘Committee of the Whole’ under sub-rule (1) of Rule 194 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012. Felicitation Speeches on the occasion of Golden Jubilee of the Senate were delivered by sitting Members, former senators, Speaker National Assembly, Governors of Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Chief Minister Sindh, Speaker Balochistan Assembly, Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Speaker Gilgit Baltistan Assembly. Ambassadors, high commissioners, representatives of international organizations such as the World Bank, presidents of chambers of commerce and industry, office bearers of bar councils and owners of media houses also attended the session. Forty-seven (47) Senators spoke on this occasion.

This special session was chaired by Chairman Senate Senator Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani who reaffirmed his commitment towards upholding democracy, rule of law, good governance, and the supremacy of the Parliament in order to make Pakistan stable, stronger, and unified. He also announced that the Committee of the Whole would be a permanent feature, held preferably every quarter to discuss challenges facing the country, hold a healthy discourse among all stakeholders on possible solutions, promote positive and critical thinking, and give voice to the aspirations of the federating units as well as people of Pakistan.

Prime Minister, Mr. Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, MNA (NA-132 Lahore-X), while addressing the session on March 16, 2023, lauded the historical role of political leadership in framing the 1973 Constitution which granted equal rights to all the four provinces of the country. He congratulated the Senate for always passing the required legislation on important issues. He also urged the national political leadership to forge unity in order to address the prevailing challenges of economic instability and poverty. He said his party and coalition parties sacrificed their politics for the sake of the country.

During the Senate special 326th session to commemorate 50 years of the Senate, a commemorative stamp was issued by the Pakistan Post while a commemorative coin and a medallion were also unveiled in connection with the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Senate. Chairman Sanjrani emphasized the importance of taking a moment to reflect on the many achievements, progress, and successes made by the Senate over the past 50 years highlighting the performance of the Senate including number of legislations passed, key decisions taken and performance under other designated functions. However, the Senate chose not to issue a report highlighting the performance of the Senate in 50 years. PILDAT believes that the Senate should have undertaken a study to critically ascertain the performance and contribution of the institution in the past 50 years and to develop ideas on how the Senate can be made even more effective. Such ideas as a directly-elected Senate and giving it the financial powers should have been examined in detail in such a study. Golden Jubilee was a befitting occasion to undertake such a project. Politics also overtook the celebration of this event as the Senators belonging to the PTI including the Leader of the Opposition, Senator Dr. Shahzad Waseem, did not attend it. The PTI should have utilized this as an important occasion to express their views on the performance of the Senate. Prime Minister, Mr. Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif criticized former Prime Minister, Mr. Imran Khan on his performance and his attitude towards politics.