Kashmir likely to dominate sessions in Parliament

Lawmakers to adopt resolution in support of Kashmiris

ISLAMABAD: A key session of parliament will open on Monday with both the lower and upper houses taking up the crunch question of Kashmir in the context of national security threats. For the most part, Kashmir will dominate the agenda of lawmakers, downgrading some major legislative matters scheduled for debate and possible adoption.

“This is a very important session … because it has been convened in the context of national security threats,” Senator Mushahid told The Express Tribune on Sunday.

First off, he said, the house will express solidarity with the Kashmiris and approve resolutions in favour of the self-determination of the people of Kashmir.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had also reiterated the same commitment at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Speaking about recent threats emanating from India, the senator underscored the need for conveying a message to the international community that the Pakistani nation would resist all attempts at creation of “Indian hegemony, bullying and aggression”.

Furthermore, Senator Jehanzeb Jamaldini of the BNP-M is scheduled to move a motion to discuss the current state of relations between Pakistan and India, especially in the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warnings to Pakistan.

Other key matters

Members of opposition parties are also planning to table a bill for setting up an inquiry commission to probe into the revelations made by the disclosures contained in the Panama Papers [The Panama Papers Inquiries Bill, 2016].

PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar said the terms of reference that had been converted into a bill, could not be submitted in the Senate in the earlier session because members of the MQM had not signed them.

Still, he added, they had given their assurances regarding the matter, stating their political party was passing through a critical stage.

The House is also expected to continue discussion over the president’s address to parliament, he added.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Minister Kamran Michael is all set move the bill to provide for solemnisation of marriages by Hindu families and for matters ancillary and incidental thereto [The Hindu Marriage Bill, 2016], as reported by the Standing Committee.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2016.