Senate panel irked by minister’s absence

The Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice on Wednesday expressed its anger over the absence of Law Minister Farogh Naseem from its meeting.

The chairman of the committee, Syed Ali Zafar, said the law minister should have informed the panel in advance about his absence and directed him to ensure attendance in future meetings.

The meeting discussed a constitutional amendment bill to include women's right to inheritance as a fundamental right.

Senator Farooq H Naek said Islam had already given women the right to inheritance and that was why there was no need to amend the Constitution.

The law ministry and Senator Waleed Iqbal also opposed the amendment bill.

The committee rejected the bill by a majority.

Senator Sadia Abbasi introduced a bill to declare bail a basic right of the accused. She took the stand that a person rounded up by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had to stay in jail for 10 months even if they were not found guilty.

She said the accused should not be given unconventional and harsh punishments.

The chairman of the committee noted that severe punishment also included the death penalty.

Naek said that even in the US, the punishment was 100 years behind bars. The committee later rejected the bill.

In addition, an amendment bill was discussed for allowing advisers to the chief ministers to address the provincial assemblies.

Senator Kahuda Babar pointed out that the advisers to the prime minister were allowed to address the assembly. Therefore, he added that provincial advisers should be given this right.

After discussion, the constitutional amendment was passed.

The committee also unanimously approved the Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2021 (Insertion of Article 38A) regarding identification, preservation, conservation, restoration, and access for all to national heritage sites of Pakistan with some editorial changes.

Senator Saadia Abbasi while explaining the rationale behind the amendment said Pakistan was endowed with a large number of ancient sites and historic structures which comprised its national heritage.

“These historic assets create links with the past and present, and make the country a treasure-house of heritage spanning over centuries. As the custodians it is incumbent upon the State of Pakistan to stabilise and conserve these for future generations.

Such historical sites which comprise the national heritage of Pakistan are of educational, cultural, and social values for all and contribute in human development,” she added.

The committee than considered  Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2021 (Insertion of Article 17A and Amendment of Article 51 and 106) regarding right to vote and unanimously decided to defer discussion on it till next meeting of the panel to receive an opinion from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on the matter.

(With input from APP)