Senate passes MPs’ salaries bill

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Monday passed the Members of Parliament Salaries and Allowances Amendment Bill 2025 with a majority. The only opposing voice came from PTI Senator Hamayun Mohmand, who opposed the bill. Senator Danesh Kumar moved the bill, The Members of Parliament Salaries and Allowances Amendment Bill 2025, in the Senate.

Through this amendment, the approval of allowances and salaries will be granted by the finance committees of both the National Assembly and the Senate. Explaining the bill, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the issue of salaries and allowances now lies with the House Finance Committee of Parliament. A similar bill had been approved by the National Assembly. With these amendments, both the Senate and the National Assembly will have aligned decisions on the matter.

The Senate also approved The National Assembly Secretariat Employees (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Senator Dinesh Kumar moved a motion for the consideration of the bill to further amend the National Assembly Secretariat Employees Act, 2018. The bill, The National Assembly Secretariat Employees (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was passed by the National Assembly.

After the motion was approved by the house, the chairman presented the bill for clause-by-clause approval, which was granted by the house. Meanwhile, Senator Abdul Qadir withdrew The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which had been introduced on September 2, 2024.

The Senate also forwarded seven private members’ bills to their committees for detailed review and consideration. These bills, presented by various senators, cover issues, including women’s rights, human rights, labour laws, and constitutional amendments.

Among the bills referred to was the National Commission on the Status of Women (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which aims to amend the National Commission on the Status of Women Act, 2012.

Additionally, two amendments to the National Commission for Human Rights Act, 2012, were referred. Both amendments were introduced by Senator Zehri.

Another significant bill referred to was The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2025, proposed by Senator Mohammad Abdul Qadir. This bill seeks to amend Article 27 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan regarding quotas, focusing on ensuring equal opportunities and protection from discrimination.

The Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2024, presented by Senator Mohsin Aziz, was also forwarded to the relevant committee. Senator Mohammad Abdul Qadir’s second bill, also The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was referred to for further consideration, continuing his efforts to introduce constitutional changes.

These bills will now undergo detailed scrutiny by the committees before further progress in the Senate. The house rejected the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which aimed to amend the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority Act, 1996. The bill, introduced by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Shibli Faraz, received only nine votes in favour, while 18 members voted against it, resulting in the bill being dismissed.

The Senate also passed a resolution moved by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri regarding Pakistanis in foreign jails. The resolution urged the Government of Pakistan to fulfil its obligation, under both the Constitution and international law, to protect the fundamental rights of its citizens detained abroad.

The resolution stated that the Government of Pakistan should protect the fundamental rights of its citizens detained abroad, as per the Constitution and international law. It highlighted official estimates that over 23,000 Pakistani citizens are currently imprisoned across the world without access to lawyers, impartial translators, or adequate consular assistance from Pakistani diplomatic missions.

These detainees face harsh punishments due to a lack of understanding and assistance with the legal process. The house, therefore, recommended that the government provide effective consular assistance and representation to all overseas Pakistani prisoners and ensure their fundamental rights are not violated. Additionally, the resolution called for the active pursuit of bilateral prisoner transfer agreements to repatriate Pakistani nationals and allow them to serve their sentences in their home country.