Session of the Senate began at the Parliament House in Islamabad this afternoon with Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani in the chair.

A number of bills were introduced in the House today (Monday).

These include: The Constitution Amendment Bill 2021 (Amendment of Article 130), The Constitution Amendment Bill 2021(Amendment of Article 9), The Constitution Amendment Bill 2021(Insertion of Article 38A), The Constitution Amendment Bill 2021(Amendment of Article 89), The China Pakistan Economic Corridor Authority (Amendment) Bill 2021, The Pakistan Penal Code Amendment Bill 2021 and the Constitution Amendment Bill 2021(Insertion of Article 17A and Amendment of Articles 51 and 106).

The chair referred the bills to the standing committees concerned.

The House passed “The Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment) Bill 2021”.

The Bill was introduced by Senator Sherry Rehman.

Leader of the House Shahzad Waseem said a negotiated peace settlement is the only solution to Afghan issue.

Speaking on a motion, he said Pakistan wants people’s chosen government in Afghanistan. He said in result of emerging situation in Afghanistan, planning should be completed to contain the refugees in border areas.

The leader of the House said we are fully prepared to deal with terrorist activities that are being planted by spoilers of the peace in the region. He said cybercrimes are major challenge which demands unity. He urged parliamentarians and Ulemas to play their role in this regard.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said Pakistan wants a peaceful Afghanistan and the way forward to forge peace and stability in the region.

Winding up debate on a motion, he said our institutions are fully vigilant to deal with threats being staged by our enemies to spoil the peace. The Minister said we need to address the genuine issues of the country to deal with hybrid war tactics. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken steps in this regard by resolving the issues of Balochistan.

The House passed three resolutions recommending the government to look into the matter of water crisis, expanding Metro Bus Service operation to Rawat, and to divert more funds to the merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 

The first resolution urged the government to formulate an emergency national action plan to fight the impending water crisis through reliable data gathering, improved efficiency of existing reservoirs, reduced water losses and improved sowing all over the country.

The House also recommended the Government to start metro bus service from Faizabad to Rawat on priority basis.  It said since Islamabad Expressway is a wide road, the service can be started without any delays by plying metro buses on a dedicated lane at the Expressway.

The third resolution demanded of the government to ensure provision of three percent share in the NFC Award and 100 billion rupees annual development package for the merged districts of erstwhile FATA as committed by the Federal Government at the time of 25th Constitutional Amendment and merger of EX-FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in order to carry out development programme in the said districts during the next financial year 2021-2022.

The house will now meet tomorrow (Tuesday) at five pm.