Senators object to bill moved by caretaker minister

Senate chairman Sadiq Sanjrani postponed deliberation on bill moved by the parliamentary affairs and information minister, following strong objections raised by the members, who suggested that legislation was not the purview of the caretaker government.

The chair also suspended the Question Hour after the minister told the house that it was his maiden session and added that every question from the members would be answered in the future. He also said that he stood by the principles of the Constitution, law and democracy.

Senator Raza Rabbani of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) raised objection when Parliamentary Affairs Minister Murtaza Solangi sought permission to present the Motion Pictures (Amendment) Bill 2023. “It is for the first time in the country's history that a caretaker government has brought a bill,” he said.

“Bills can only be introduced by the [elected] government that holds the [people’s] mandate. As per the Constitution, the caretaker government can take only urgent measures relating to day-to-day government affairs,” he said, adding that the minister was not even a member of parliament.

However, Solangi replied that Senator Rabbani's reservations were baseless, as the Constitution allowed necessary and emergency measures. He added that he stood by the principles of the Constitution, law and democracy and “whatever decision the house takes on the bill, we will respect it”.

Sanjrani asked if there was no urgency in the matter, the bill could be kept pending until the elected government was in place. Solangi said that the bill had to go to the committee anyway and since the National Assembly was not present, the bill could not be enacted immediately.

The Senate chairman adjourned the matter and observing that the attorney general for Pakistan (AGP) would be consulted and a ruling would be given on Friday. The chair then adjourned further discussion on the bill.

Taking the floor, Senator Saadia Abbasi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) demanded issuance of the production orders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senators. She also said that what was fault of the PTI Preident Parvez Elahi that he had been arrested 20 times.

Abbasi stressed that the public money should be spent on the people welfare by reducing the government expenses. She urged the chair to obtain details of expenses from all the ministries. She demanded that the house should be apprised of salaries and benefits the officials.

On her request, the chair sought details of the salaries and benefits of the senior officers of the ministries and institutions. Senator Tahir Bizenjo also addressed the house, saying that it was time for the country to improve its relations with the neighbouring countries.