NA body considers Alternative Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Bill

ISLAMABAD: Members of the Standing Committee on Law and Justice considered the Alternative Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Bill, 2026” (Government Bill) and pointed out that the proposed framework should not make arbitration compulsory for the parties.

In a meeting held under the chairmanship of MNA Choudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk, the Committee further noted with grave concern that the government should not be allowed to amend the attached Schedule, as such authority would amount to an abdication of legislative power of the Parliament.

The officials of Ministry of Law &Justice briefed the Committee that the proposed provision would not constitute an abdication of parliamentary authority; rather, it would amount to a lawful delegation of power by Parliament.

The Committee directed that a detailed note addressing the Members’ concerns, along with the provincial status of the proposed legislation, be placed before the Committee in its next meeting. Accordingly, consideration of the Bill was deferred till the next meeting of the Committee.

The Committee considered the Bill “The Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2024” (Section 54-A) (moved by Sofia Saeed Shah, MNA). During detailed deliberations, the Ministry briefed the Committee that an independent Order XXI is already provided in the Code of Civil Procedure for regulating the execution of various types of decrees passed by the courts; therefore, the instant amendment is not supported in its present form. The Members, however, deliberated upon the matter and pointed out that the concerns raised by the Mover require due consideration. Accordingly, the Committee recommended that the Ministry should bring a modified draft, after due consultation with the Mover, for consideration of the Committee, and deferred the same.

The Committee also considered the Bill: “The Qanun-e-Shahadat (Amen-dment) Bill, 2025 (Moved by Shazia Marri, MNA). The Mover has provided a comparative chart, highlighting the existing provisions of the Qanoon-e-Shahadat Ordinance, the proposed amendments, and the modified amendments in light of the observations of the Committee and the Ministry in the previous recommendations. The Ministry, in principle, agreed to the modified draft, but at the same time requested a final deferment to allow for further refinement of the draft. Keeping in view the said request, the Committee deferred consideration of the Bill till its next meeting.

The Committee considered the Bill, The Public Interest Disclosures (Amendment) Bill, 2025.” Moved by Dr. Sharmila Sahiba Faruqui Hashaam, MNA; during detailed deliberations, the Committee was informed that a parallel legislation is pending for passage before the Parliament, addressing the same concerns raised by the Mover. It was also informed categorically that the intention of the Mover regarding the establishment of an independent commission is provided for in the pending Bill.

However, at the insistence of the Mover, the Committee observed that the Mover would have the opportunity to move amendments to the Bill on the floor of the House when it is brought for passage. The Committee further recommended that a comparative chart, highlighting the Government Bill and the Bill of the Mover, should also be provided to the Mover by the Ministry, in addition to proper and prior intimation regarding the placement of the agenda on the Order of the Day in the Joint Sitting, so that the Mover may exercise her right to move amendments.

Keeping in view the said circumstances, the Committee recommended that the Bill need not be processed for further legislation. Accordingly, it is recommended that the same may not be passed.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026