Warrants Review Committee: Senate panel decides to request PM for reconstitution
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat decided to request the prime minister to reconstitute the committee reviewing the decades-old Warrants of Precedence, with parliamentary representation, to address longstanding anomalies.
The committee also referred the National Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025, to the relevant committee for broader consultation with the provinces.
The committee met at Parliament House on Tuesday with Senator Rana Mahmood Ul Hassan in the chair. The meeting was attended by Senator Anusha Rehman, Senator Saadia Abbasi, Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir, Senator Atta-ur-Rehman, and Senator Aimal Wali Khan. Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti participated via Zoom, while Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri attended as the mover of the agenda items.
The committee considered the private member’s bills, “the National Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025” and “the Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2026.”
It also deliberated on the longstanding issue of the Warrants of Precedence, matters relating to electricity tariff determination and capacity payments, and the reinstatement of employees of the Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance (FEB&GI).
The committee held a detailed discussion on the Warrants of Precedence and highlighted several anomalies in the existing framework. Senator Anusha Rehman, who had moved the agenda item, questioned the prolonged delay in reviewing the Warrants of Precedence and observed that several constitutional office-holders, including the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan and the Chief Election Commissioner, continue to rank higher in the Warrants of Precedence than elected parliamentarians despite Parliament’s constitutional status.
The committee was informed that the review committee constituted under the Secretary, Cabinet Division, had not met for a considerable period due to the sensitive nature of the matter, which requires deliberation at the highest level. Officials further informed the Committee that recommendations for reviewing the Warrants of Precedence are currently under consideration in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Following detailed deliberations, the chairman decided to write to the prime minister requesting the reconstitution of the review committee under the Federal Minister for Law and Justice, with representation from both the Senate and the National Assembly, to undertake a comprehensive review of the Warrants of Precedence and implement the Committee’s recommendations. He also proposed convening a joint meeting with the National Assembly Standing Committee to resolve the matter, which has remained pending since 2008.
The committee also considered “The National Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025.” Representatives of the Law Division informed the Committee that, under Article 144 of the Constitution, amendments relating to provincial subjects could only be enacted after resolutions to that effect are passed by all provincial assemblies.
Members observed that the proposed amendments were primarily intended to strengthen oversight of disaster management funds. Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri emphasized the need for the Auditor General of Pakistan to audit Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs). Officials responded that, within the existing constitutional framework, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) could establish an appropriate coordination mechanism to strengthen oversight. After a detailed discussion, the committee decided to refer the bill to the Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination for broader consultation with the provinces.
The committee also deliberated on “the Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2026,” which seeks to provide government employees with the option of receiving their contributory amount upon retirement or allowing those contributions to remain available for the benefit of their families.
The officials opposed the proposal, citing financial constraints and maintaining that the existing scheme serves as a humanitarian support mechanism for the families of deceased or incapacitated government employees. Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri proposed the constitution of a sub-committee to examine the existing scheme and recommend appropriate reforms.
The Chairman directed the constitution of a sub-committee to review the bill in detail and instructed the Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance (FEB&GI) to engage with the mover of the bill to explore practical and constructive reforms.
The committee also reviewed the issue concerning the termination of employees recruited in 2012 under the Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance (FEB&GI) following an inquiry conducted in 2023. Members questioned why action had been taken against the employees while no proceedings had been initiated against the officials responsible for their appointments.
Expressing concern over the hardships faced by the affected employees, the Committee urged the relevant authorities to reconsider the matter in light of their years of service and practical experience. The chairman directed the concerned authorities to review the case and take appropriate steps toward reinstating the affected employees in accordance with the law.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026