Senate clears bill to increase Balochistan Assembly seats

PPP’s Sherry Rehman moves motion against aviation minister over pilot licences issue

ISLAMABAD:

The Senate on Monday unanimously passed a constitutional amendment bill to increase the number of provincial assembly seats in Balochistan, while it rejected a proposal to send the constitutional amendment bill to increase the number of high courts back to the relevant committee.

The motion for the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 for increasing Balochistan Assembly seats was moved by Senator Naseebullah Bazai. After approval of the bill from the National Assembly, the number of seats in the Balochistan Assembly will be increased from 63 to 80.

The government did not oppose the bill. Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Khan said that it was time to heal the wounds of Balochistan and the former Federally-Administered Tribal Area (Fata).

The proposal to send another constitutional amendment bill regarding increase in the number of high courts back to the committee was rejected by majority vote after the government opposed the bill.

Speaking on the move, Leader of the House Wasim Shehzad said that legislation could not be made on the will of the opposition. The remark irked the opposition which staged a walkout from the session in protest.

During the session, Senator Sherry Rehman filed a privilege motion against Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan and the aviation division, saying that a committee meeting on the issue of fake pilot license revealed contradiction between the statements of the civil aviation authority and the minister.

The federal minister and the aviation division failed to satisfy the committee, she said adding that a privilege motion was filed against the minister but there had been no response from him.

Rehman also said there were a large number of advisers and special assistants whose assets and foreign citizenship had come to light. If a member of parliament could be disqualified for dual citizenship, the ban should also be imposed on advisers.

Meanwhile, the house passed a resolution, recognising the efforts and sacrifices of doctors and paramedical staff, while fighting on the frontlines against Covid-19. The resolution was moved by Senator Mohsin Aziz.

Aziz commended the “invaluable contribution” of doctors and paramedical staff in combating this pandemic amid increased medical risks and unprecedented workload of treating huge number of patients.