Senate adopts services bills with majority

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Wednesday hurriedly adopted the three amendment bills concerning the tenure of the three services chiefs amid opposition by the legislators belonging to nationalist parties.

With uncharacteristic efficiency, the bills sailed through the Upper House, undeterred by the vocal protests of minor opposition parties like the National Party, the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) and the Jamaat-e-Islami.

Out of total 104 members, 90 were present, 10 were absent and three were on leave, namely former chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani, Sirajul Haq and Hidayatullah, whereas Muhammad Ishaq Dar remains suspended. The PML-N Senators Pervaiz Rashid, Musadik Masood Malik, Abdul Qayyum and Dr Asad Ashraf were among the absentees, besides Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri of the JUI-F. Ch Tanvir of the PML-N is presently abroad for treatment. The National Party of Balochistan has four members in the House: Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Mir Kabir Shahi, Muhammad Akram and Dr Ashuk Kumar. Dr Kumar stood for the three bills, contrary to his party’s opposition to the legislation. The four parties' legislators staged walk-out from the House.

The House held proceedings for about 22 minutes to carry out the legislation while Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani conducted the proceedings and the rest of the business was left aside. Clause by clause reading of the bills was held after Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak moved the pieces of legislation and put them for voice vote. The Upper House of the Parliament adopted the bills related to chief of army staff, chief of air staff and chief of naval staff and the chairman of the joint chief of staff committee a day after the National Assembly passed them. Sanjrani suspended the routine business to take up the bills.

The otherwise formidable opposition, enjoying clear majority in the 104-member House, stood divided with two major opposition parties i.e. PML-N and PPP supporting the bills. The bills, which were approved by the House Standing Committee on Defence, immediately, were referred to it by the Senate, which was adjourned for Wednesday. The House will now resume tomorrow (Friday) morning at 10:30am. Sadiq Sanjrani signed the three amendment bills and sent to the president for his assent.

Meanwhile, Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the political leadership and parties having a democratic approach had lent strength to the democratic interest and hence took a step towards strengthening of Pakistan's defence.

Talking to journalists outside the Parliament House, she emphasised that the passage of the Services Act amendment bills was not for a specific personality or an institution but this legislation was for the generations to come. She noted that the same solidarity and unity, which was seen in the National Assembly Tuesday, was on Wednesday witnessed in the Senate and while well within the constitutional and legal ambit, all political parties took part inlegislation, demonstrating maturity and magnanimity. “Today, this reality was unfolded that to ensure national security and defence is the responsibility of prime minister and the one who is responsible for all this, has been empowered, as the coalescence of authority and responsibility will strengthen democracy. And today, the norms linked with democracy were demonstrated,” she pointed out.

Leader of the House in Senate Syed Shibli Faraz said that barring a few parties, all political parties demonstrated unanimity in the National Assembly as well as the Senate for the adoption of legislation. He noted that the Parliament had done away with a constitutional lacuna and now the legal lacuna would also not stay. He was optimistic that the unity expressed with the three amendment bills would be adopted on other pieces of legislation of public interest too. “Our prime obligation is legislation and we should focus on that,” he said.

The PTI Senator Faisal Javed said the legislation of critical national importance and for that the role of the opposition parties was highly commendable. He added the government looked forward to similar spirit from the opposition in relation to other bills.