Rabbani stops laying of ordinance before Senate due to lack of its copies

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani on Friday ‘barred’ the government from laying before the Senate the Companies Ordinance 2016, as its copies were not made available by the government to the Senate Secretariat for distribution among senators.

Leader of the House, Senator Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq wanted to lay the ordinance but had to defer it till next week for want of its copies. Rabbani suggested that the ordinance might be laid afterwards. Several items on the orders of the day could not be taken up due to non-availability of senators concerned, as the fresh session was summoned hurriedly, whereas the regular session was to start from November 21.

When Raja Zafar referred to the presence of former information minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid that he could lay the ordinance, the Senate chief remarked that he had already been sidelined as minister. On this, the leader of the House said that this was done for the time being.

Raising a point, Rabbani observed that it would have been better had the government and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) implemented the points raised in the Senate several times with regards to certain officers in the bureau. In this context, he made reference to the Supreme Court order regarding some officers’ appointment and their merger in the NAB.

He noted that it was often said that this was not the function of the Parliament and certain issues were not brought before it. Rabbani pointed out that this issue was first of all raised in the Senate by Senator Saeed Ghani, and senators had submitted questions, adjournment motions and calling attention notices. The House had witnessed discussion on this matter repeatedly.

The House adopted two separate resolutions to condole the demise of PPP sitting Senator Jahangir Badr and former senator of Awami National Party Haji Muhammad Adeel. The resolutions noted that their services for democracy would be always remembered.

The House expressed deep grief and sorrow over the passing away of these two senior politicians and lawmakers, and paid glowing tributes to them for their services for democracy and provincial autonomy.

Those, who spoke, included Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq, Leader of the Opposition Aitzaz Ahsan, Senators Mushahid Ullah Khan, Saleh Shah, Umsan Kakar, Talha Mehmood and Sehar Kamran. Hence, senators from the treasury as well as the opposition benches showered praise on the late senators. PPP’s parliamentary leader Senator Taj Haider presented resolution for late Badr while Senator Raja Zafar for late Haji Adeel.

Aitzaz recalled how bravely Badr fought during the martial law regimes and even was subjected to police brutality and lashes during Zia’s era. Raja Zafar praised Haji Adeel for his unflinching struggle for the rights of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The legislators were particularly impressed by loyalty of these late senators to their respective parties through thick and thin.

The chairman Senate had to defer two adjournment motions owing to absence of the concerned senators: These were regarding loss of Rs4.46 billion incurred by Nandipur power plant in June 2016 and 36 percent increase in the gas prices by the government, as reflected in newspapers on October 10, 2016.

Yet another motion pertained to the privatization policy of the government in the light of sub-section (2) of section 16 of the Privatization Commission Ordinance, 2000 was withdrawn by the mover.

The Senate passed a motion to suspend the question hour, which was not part of the orders of the day. The House will now resume on Monday afternoon.

In a condolence message, Rabbani expressed profound grief and sorrow on the demise of former Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel.

He eulogized services of Haji Adeel for democracy and upholding law and constitution. “His services for democracy and supremacy of the Constitution will be remembered for long,” he remarked. He said with his death, Pakistan has lost a seasoned and experienced politician as he prayed for eternal peace of departed soul and courage to bereaved family to ensure this loss.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman Senate Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Leader of the House in the Senate Raja Zafarul Haq and Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan also condoled the sad demise of Haji Adeel.

Meanwhile nine students of University of California, Berkley USA visited the Parliament House today and were given a guided tour of the Gali-e-Dastoor. It began with witnessing the introductory video documentary explaining the overall thematic overview of the Gali.

Later the students were given a briefing about each document and picture displayed in the Gali explaining the ups and downs in Pakistan’s Constitutional history. The visit ended at the courtyard where a fountain depicts the Pakistani federalism. The students were also given a tour to the Senate hall.

It may be noted that these visits to the Upper House and particularly the Gali-e-Dastoor are a part of Senate’s outreach and education programme to enhance awareness about the Parliament, constitution and the struggle down the history lane.

The Gali-e-Dastoor was launched and opened for public in September when an open invitation was announced to register free visits online or by contacting the senate secretariat and has so far been host to around 700 visitors. The visitors include diplomatic community, politicians, think tanks, media, students and faculty from schools, colleges and universities, families and individuals.