Special courts to decide overseas Pakistanis’ property cases

ISLAMABAD: On the opening day of the new session, the Senate on Thursday unanimously passed a bill seeking establishment of special courts to decide property related cases of overseas Pakistanis.

The Question-Hour was not conducted as Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD) Chaudhry Salik Hussain tabled the Establishment of Special Courts bill in the House. Explaining the salient features of the bill, the minister noted the special courts would decide the cases within 90 days and overseas Pakistanis would be able to file their complaints online.

He said Pakistan’s missions abroad will also be involved, adding, it was necessary as 90 percent of the issues faced by the overseas Pakistanis were related to property. The bill was welcomed by the members of the House, saying it was a longstanding demand of overseas Pakistanis.

PMLN Parliamentary Leader in the House Senator Irfan Siddiqui lauded the proposed law and termed the overseas Pakistanis a precious asset of the country. He continued that the remittances from the overseas Pakistanis have gone up to a record level of $3 billion a month. The House passed the Deposit Protection Corporation amendment bill moved by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, who explained the move was meant to ensure stability of the financial system and would strengthen bank resolution and recovery regime.

He contended that this was essentially to deal with non-viable banks so that taxpayers money was not needed for bank resolution except under extreme circumstances. The minister pointed out that the funds held by deposit insurance agency can be used to provide financial support.

The Senate passed a resolution congratulating the government on the successful hosting of the SCO summit. It was moved by PPP’s Senator Sherry Rehman, which emphasized that the major summit marks a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s efforts to enhance its regional and global stature. “The success of the conference is demonstrated in both its letter and spirit, indicating a turn in the road for Pakistan’s place in the world,” the resolution read.

Speaking on the occasion, Sherry praised the summit as a significant achievement after many years, depicting that it will greatly enhance Pakistan’s profile in geo-economics, stimulate regional activity and encourage investment in crucial areas such as infrastructure, connectivity and climate goals. She commended Pakistan’s top-notch hospitality, acknowledging the large delegations that attended the summit. She emphasized that Pakistan is now viewed as a pivotal player in fostering regional connectivity, with the successful inauguration of Gwadar Port by China serving as a key highlight. “With Eurasia representing 40 percent of the world’s population, Pakistan’s role in connecting these regions is crucial for future growth,” she noted. Sherry stressed the importance of sustained engagement and warned against complacency, drawing attention to the fate of other regional forums like Saarc, which has become largely inactive. “We must ensure that SCO does not face the same destiny. Pakistan is open for business, and we need to remember that this is just the beginning,” she maintained.

However, the PPP senator acknowledged that there was a room for improvement, particularly in terms of coordination and follow-up. She recommended the creation of a detailed report to ensure that the progress made during the summit is effectively tracked and further developed. The House will now meet again on Friday at 2pm.