ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges approved the amendment in Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Senate, 2012, proposed by Senator Irfan Siddiqui.
After a detailed discussion, the committee unanimously passed all the suggested amendments moved by Senator Irfan-ul-Haq Siddiqui. He proposed the amendments in Rules 15, 16, 171 and 172(F) in Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Senate, 2012.
Earlier, the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges was presided over by Chairman Taj Haider on Thursday to discuss the privilege motions moved by Senators Mir Dostain Khan Domki, Saadia Abbasi, and Saifullah Abro in the presence of committee members Senators Dost Ali Jeesar and Saadia Abbasi.
Endorsing Siddiqui’s amendment the committee allowed the forwarding of the amended document and the old one to enable the members to assess the new changes and compare both documents. It also discussed the nomination of a panel of presiding officers to run the house during the absence of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman and endorsed the amendment in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Senate, 2012. It was decided that the Secretary Senate could announce the panel of presiding officers after coordination with the Chairman or Deputy Chairman. Previously the Senate session could not be held if the Chairman or Deputy Chairman had not announced the panel of chairmen to preside over the session in the former’s absence. However now through the amendment if the Chairman or Deputy Chairman Senate are not present at the start of the session then the Secretary Senate can announce the panel of presiding officers in coordination with the Chairman or Deputy Chairman.
Another amendment to the Rules was endorsed by Senator Irfan Siddiqui’s committee, which omitted the word FATA from the rules. This amendment was presented because, after the 25th Amendment, FATA had merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, the word FATA was still mentioned in the Rules and it was omitted through this amendment.
The committee also addressed Senator Saifullah Abro’s complaint about the Sindh Police’s nonresponsiveness to his requests. In response, the SSP apologized to the Senator. The Chairman emphasized that officers must maintain strong communication channels with the politicians of their areas to ensure an ideal law and order situation. Regarding another concern raised by Senator Saifullah Abro about the withdrawal of security by the Sindh Police, the chairman committee recommended submitting a formal request to the Home Department, Sindh, to provide security to Senator Abro, who is the only politician in Sindh who belongs to the opposition benches. The Chairman also expressed his grievances regarding the performance of the Sindh Police.
The committee also discussed the poor performance of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), which was highlighted by Senator Saadia Abbasi. In response, the Vice-Chancellor informed the committee about his recent appointment in January 2025. He admitted that PIDE had not been very active since 2018, but now it is actively focusing on its core responsibilities and is planning to introduce PhD programmes in five additional courses besides economics. He further stated that they are in the process of developing a five-year plan to empower PIDE.
Regarding the privilege motion of Senator Mir Dostain Khan Domki against Lal Jam Jaffar, Secretary of Communication and Works, Government of Balochistan, the committee expressed displeasure over the officials’s absence. The committee recommended taking stern action against the officer and communicating the same to the Chief Secretary, of Balochistan.