Cabinet decides on change in Constitution to stop horse-trading

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Monday decided to bring in a Constitutional amendment to stop horse-trading in the upcoming Senate elections.
The federal cabinet, which met here on Monday with Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in the chair, reviewed various proposals to stop horse-trading and ensure transparency in the Senate elections.
Addressing the meeting, the PM expressed deep concern over reports of alleged use of money and influence for the Senate elections. He said there was a need to ensure that no horse-trading or use of money should take place in the Senate elections.
Terming all such reports regrettable, he directed to take immediate steps to make the election process transparent, fair and in accordance with the democratic norms.The federal cabinet decided that other political parties would be contacted in this regard and the process of amendment to the Constitution would be completed before the Senate elections. The PM also directed immediate formation of a committee comprising legal experts to deliberate on the legal position and submit its report and recommendations in the next 24 hours.
Earlier, the cabinet offered its condolence on the sad demise of Justice (retd) Rana Bhagwandas, former judge of the Supreme Court who died in Karachi.The PM appreciated the role played by Justice (retd) Rana Bhagwandas for his services to the nation during his long tenure as a judge of the Supreme Court.
Water and Power and Petroleum and Natural Resources secretaries gave detailed presentations to the federal cabinet on energy related issues. The cabinet was informed that LNG-based 3,600MW power generation projects would be completed by December 2017.
The chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA)the cabinet on the prospects of public-private-partnership for carrying out development work in the federal capital. He informed that there were no sustainable sources of income for the organisation that was impacting its capability to carry out required development work. He proposed that public-private-partnership might be allowed to overcome financial constraints being faced by the CDA. He added that in the public-private-partnership model, such projects would be initiated which would provide sustainable source of income to the authority.
The PM while approving the proposal in principle, directed CDA chairman to work out necessary amendment required in the CDA laws for approval by Parliament.The PM said that action would be taken against all those responsible for any delay in the energy projects. He directed that the proposed projects should be completed by Feb 2017.
The cabinet approved initiation of negotiation for Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It also approved for signing of loan agreement for energy sector reform programme between Pakistan and Japan International Cooperation Agency. Formal approval of the inter-government framework agreement signed between Pakistan and China for government concessional loan to finance Karachi Nuclear Power Projects K-2 and K-3 was also accorded by the cabinet.
The federal cabinet gave its permission, in principle, for initiating negotiations for Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UAE in the field of manpower.Agencies add: The cabinet also approved signing of the Reciprocal Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the government of Pakistan and government of Iran.
It considered and gave its approval, in principle, to start negotiations with the government of the Qatar for Holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports Approval, and to enter into negotiations on an “Agreement on Transfer of Offenders/Sentenced Persons” between Pakistan and Malaysia.
The cabinet gave its approval for signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the government of the Sultanate of Oman represented by the Royal Oman Police and Pakistan represented by the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control in the field of illicit trafficking of narcotic, drugs & psychotropic substances.
The cabinet considered and gave its approval to the Protocol Minutes of the Meeting with China National Petroleum Corporation of People’s Republic of China regarding Gwadar-Nawabshah LNG Terminal and Pipeline Project.The federal cabinet also discussed implementation of the national action plan on terrorism. It discussed overall law and order and economic situation.