PTI fails to get three major bills passed from Senate

Chairman refers them to relevant committees on Sherry Rehman’s insistence

ISLAMABAD:

The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Tuesday could not succeed in getting three major bills passed from the Senate due to the opposition’s intervention.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan had introduced the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan amendment Bill, the Protection of Parents Bill and the establishment of Pak University of Engineering and Emerging Technologies Bill for approval in the House.

The state minister requested Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani to pass all the three bills without referring them to the relevant committees. However, opposition member Senator Sherry Rehman opposed the move, which was also supported by Leader of the House Shehzad Wasim.

The Senate chairman then referred all the three bills to the relevant committees.

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During the Question Hour, in a written reply to a question about India's violation of the Indus Basin Agreement, the water ministry said that India was building several hydropower projects on the western rivers.

“The majority of the designs of these power plants are in violation of the design specified in the Indus Water Treaty and we are aware of Indian plans on the water of rivers … all cases are being taken up at Indus Commission level with India for bilateral resolution. “India is allowed to store limited water by building hydro-houses on western rivers under Indus Basin Agreement.”

Opposition Senator Sadia Abbasi said, “Today, I have learned that Monis Elahi is the minister for water resources … He should come to the House.”

Senator Ijaz Chaudhry said that 50 years ago from today, the feasibility of Kala Bagh Dam was completed.

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“Now it is considered a sin to talk about it in the House, but what is the alternative? No one realises that three rivers of Pakistan have been sold in the past.”

Minister of State Ali Muhammad Khan said that the era in which India built Baglihar Dam was the era of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Sadia replied that the question that has been asked from the government should be answered. “Don’t get personal and abusive.”

The state minister replied that he answered the question that was asked, “we did not abuse anyone nor did we target anyone”.

During the meeting, the Ministry of Energy informed the House that in the last three years, electricity distribution companies received 16,149 applications, of which the government issued 12,918 licences for net metering.

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Further, Federal Minister Shirin Mazari raised the issue of Missing Persons Bill in the House.

“The bill regarding missing persons has been passed by the National Assembly … why the bill is not being introduced in the Senate.”

The Senate chairman said that the bill belongs to the government and the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has to present it. “Don't blame us.”

“We cannot take this bill until it is passed by the parliamentary affairs ministry.”

In a lighthearted manner, the state minister told Shireen that the bill would be passed if she would spare a few bucks.