Merging of FATA into KP: Issue of Senate's numerical strength discussed at length

The Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice has considered the issue of numerical strength of the Senate after merging of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The committee met with Muhammad Javed Abbasi in the chair at the Parliament House on Wednesday. The committee discussed "the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues (Amendment) Bill, 2018" and issues of numerical strength of Senate due to merging of FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and performance of National Accountability Bureau.

The committee considered the matter referred to the committee by the chairman Senate regarding the situation for the Senate of Pakistan in terms of its number of seats resultant from the 25th Constitutional Amendment. After the amendment, FATA was merged into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and consequently the seats of Senate of Pakistan from Fata will no more exist, affecting the numerical strength of the House.

The committee members were asked to deliberate upon the consideration of increasing the seats of each province so as to maintain the existing strength. The matter will be discussed in detail in a separate meeting.

The term of four senators out of the existing eight senators from FATA will expire on March 11, 2021, whereas the term of office of the reaming four members shall expire on March 11, 2024. Resultantly, number of members of the Senate will be reduced to 100 in March 2021 after expiry of term of 04 members from erstwhile FATA and to 96 after expiry of term of remaining four members from FATA in Mach 2024.

Committee Chairman Muhammad Javed Abbasi asked the members to come with preparation on the issue of numerical strength of Senate in a special meeting which would be held after next few days.

The committee was given a detailed briefing by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) regarding working and overall performance of the Bureau, procedure of taking cognizance of cases, inquiry and prosecution, operational methodology, timeline of cases, international commitments, and offences under National Accountability Ordinance 1999 among other matters. The briefing will continue in the next meeting.

During the briefing, NAB Director General Zahir Shah said that the NAB has recovered a total Rs 147.39 billon during the last three years. He said that the NAB recovered 9.26 billion directly and Rs 138.134 billion indirectly. He said that the NAB received a total of 11,108 complaints out of which 857 were verified. He said that there are a total of 931 inquiries, 342 investigations and 1,268 references.

On the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues (Amendment) Bill, 2018, the chairman National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) told the committee that the possibility of putting a mark on the identity card cannot be ruled out but it would only be possible to be incorporated or taken out when a person comes to NADRA for getting his or her card renewed. It was also told if it is decided to put a symbol/mark on the card then the changes of details in the NADRA form wouldn't be needed. The committee decided to make a decision on the bill in the next meeting after internal consultations.

The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2018 (Amendment of Article 27), the Ratification of Foreign Agreements by Parliament Bill, 2018, moved by Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (Insertion of Article 253A), moved by Senator Mushtaq Ahmed, were deferred due to the absence of movers.

The meeting was attended by Senators Farooq Naek, Muzaffar Hussain Shah, Sana Jamali, Barrister Muhammad Ali Khan Saif, Ghous Niazi, Jahanzaib Kakar, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Muhammad Azam Swati, secretary law and justice, chairman NADRA, and officials from relevant departments.