In a meeting of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice, a sub-committee has been formed to discuss the increase of minority seats in the national and provincial assemblies of Balochistan.
The meeting, chaired by Senator Farooq H. Naek, included the participation of Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar and the Secretary of Law. During the session, Senator Sadia Abbasi withdrew a constitutional amendment bill to amend Article 25-B, while Article 63-A was also discussed.
Federal Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar briefed the committee, stating that no votes would be cast without the permission of the parliamentary party. He raised the question of the contradiction involved in presenting a constitutional amendment bill without the party’s consent.
He emphasized that private member bills should not be introduced without the approval of the parliamentary leader. “The Supreme Court has stated that even if you cast a vote, it will not be counted,” he remarked, advocating for the necessity of consent before introducing such bills.
The discussion also included the matter of increasing minority seats in both national and provincial assemblies. A bill regarding amendments to Articles 51 and 106 of the Constitution was presented to the committee.
Senator Dinesh Kumar reviewed the constitutional amendment bill, highlighting that there are currently ten seats reserved for non-Muslims in the assembly, and pointed out that this time, there is no non-Muslim member from Balochistan in the National Assembly. He suggested that at least one seat should be reserved for each province, after which the committee postponed the bill for further consideration.
Azam Nazeer Tarar noted that political parties in Balochistan had expressed concerns about the large electoral constituencies, emphasizing the need for the four provincial governments to collaborate. However, Senator Sadia Abbasi refused to join the sub-committee.
During the meeting, Senator Khalida Ateeb presented a bill to amend Articles 140-A and 160 of the Constitution, aiming to transfer powers to the local government level. She urged the federal government to address why funds meant for local governments are not directly provided to them, questioning why the Minister of Local Government retains these powers.
Khalida Ateeb stated that her amendments were not intended to reduce anyone’s authority but to improve the system. Senator Hamid Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) remarked that the issue raised in the bill had not been addressed previously, noting that local government funds go to the provincial government, which raises concerns about their allocation.
Senator Zameer Ghamro criticized the bill, asserting that it is a provincial matter and should be rejected. In response, Senator Anusha Rahman supported Ghamro’s view, stating that every province has its unique dimensions and that provincial governments should legislate as they see fit.
Chairman Farooq H. Naek emphasized that decisions should be made under the Constitution, affirming that local governance is a better law. The Federal Minister of Law agreed that the bill had previously been brought up by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), recognizing the vital role local governments play in development.
He stated that the presented bill contained the same terms found in Article 140, with the only difference being attitudes. He stressed the importance of dialogue and communication, asserting that a change in attitudes is needed before constitutional amendments.
Senator Khalida Ateeb claimed that there is malicious intent in the usage of funds. This prompted Senator Zameer Ghamro to protest, requesting that the term “malicious intent” be removed.
In the meeting, Senator Hamid Khan supported Khalida Ateeb’s bill from the MQM. Chairman Farooq Naek reminded the committee that when discussing constitutional amendments, all provinces should be taken into account.
Senator Khalida Ateeb argued that approving this bill would empower the provinces and alleviate Balochistan’s grievances. The Federal Minister of Law suggested that provinces could collaboratively establish a local government framework.
Chairman Farooq H. Naek concluded that the local government issue is not just a matter for one party, but for the people of Pakistan. Senator Khalida Ateeb maintained that the deprivation of the people of Balochistan stems from the failure to transfer resources effectively.
Senator Kamran Murtaza added that they are deprived due to these ongoing issues. Subsequently, the committee postponed the bill, granting the Ministry of Law time to consult with the provinces and respond in the next meeting.
