Govt requisitions Senate session

The federal government has called a session of the Senate in order to get the nod of the upper house of parliament on some pieces of legislation that the National Assembly has already passed. The house will also discuss recent incidents of terrorism and the country’s economic crisis.

According to sources, the house is likely to meet today {Tuesday] at 2pm. They said in view of the session requisitioned by the government, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani has shortened his visit to Saudi Arabia where he was performing Umrah and is likely to return to the country on Tuesday morning.

Sources said the upper house will remain in session until the Supreme Court of Pakistan gives its verdict on petitions filed against the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023, a proposed law which seeks to curtail the top judge’s powers to initiate suo motu proceedings and constitute benches.

In a pre-emptive move, an eight-judge bench of the Supreme Court ruled on April 13 halted implementation of the bill amid strong protest by the government and some bars associations.