The Upper House of Parliament on Monday passed a unanimous resolution, calling upon Sharif administration to appoint a full-time foreign minister on priority basis. The resolution moved Senator Azam Khan Swati of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was adopted by the House unanimously. Though the government is not bound to implement any resolution passed by Senate, it is quite significant that MPs from both sides of the aisle demanded to appoint a full-time foreign minister.
However, under the rules, the government has to inform the Senate within sixty days about the progress made after the passage of a unanimous resolution. After Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif came into power in 2013 general elections, he has kept the portfolio of the foreign minister with him despite criticism from the opposition parties which are of the view that full-time foreign minister can better handle the issues related to foreign policy of the country.
"I would like to request the prime minister to appoint a full-time foreign minister as he has some brilliant advisers, who can represent the country at international level in a more effective manner as the country is facing enough challenges due to absence of a foreign minister," said Swati.
Another resolution moved by Dr Karim Khawaja of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) called upon the government to take appropriate measures to achieve the Sustainable development Goals (SDGs) and it was also passed unanimously. A resolution moved by some 18 senators belonging to all opposition political parties, including Muttahdia Qaumi Movement (MQM), demanding the government to take necessary steps for operating PIA flights from Peshawar and Lahore as well as changing the flights timing from Karachi to Peshawar, was also unanimously passed. The resolution was moved by Azam Khan Swati.
The following five bills were introduced in the House. 'The Islamabad Capital Territory Senior Citizens Board Bill, 2017' and 'The Control of Narcotic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2017' by Senator Chaudhary Tanvir Khan of PML-N; 'The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2017' by PTI's Senator Muhammad Azam Swati, 'The Islamabad Rent Restriction (Amendment) Bill, 2017' and 'The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (Amendment of Fourth Schedule)' by MQM's Muhammad Ateeq Sheikh.
The bills were referred to the standing committees concerned for further deliberations.
Senator Tanvir's bill proposes constitution of a board to work for the well-being of senior citizens and to make provisions for setting up old-age homes for old persons and it also proposes provision of better medical facilities to senior citizens and provisions for protection of their life and property.
Senator Tanvir said that the bill envisages coverage of the senior citizens in Islamabad and wishes its replication across Pakistan afterwards. Swati's bill aims at protection of females from police and law-enforcement agencies, as unfortunately, females are held on petty matters and, in most cases, on baseless allegations of the complainants.
In such scenes, women become victims of police arrest and such women include breastfeeding mothers, pregnant and others, suffering from female-related problems. The Senate also passed 'The Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) (Amendment) Bill, 2016.' The bill, moved by PML-N's Nuzhat Sadiq, provides to amend 'The Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Act, 1675.'
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