ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice in its meeting on Friday has passed the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (Amendment of Article 130) moved by Senator Quratulain Marri that sought allowing provincial government advisers to be able to come to assemblies and respond to the questions or concerns of public representatives on the same lines as federal government advisers do.

The Committee members had a considered opinion that if advisers can sit in the cabinet they should also be able to come to the Houses.

The meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi and was attended among others by Senators Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Mian Raza Rabbani, Dr Musadiq Malik, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Quratulain Marri, Dr Shehzad Waseem, Secretary Law and Justice, Adviser on Law and officials from the ministry and bar councils.

The committee also discussed the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (Amendment of Article 11) moved by Senator Quratulain Marri that sought the minimum age for children doing hard labour to be increased to 16 instead of the 14.

The committee members held a thorough discussion on the issue discussing the aspects of child rights, financial constraints of poor families, safety concerns as well as the international conventions.

The Committee directed Ministry of Law to analyse international best practices, gather any studies conducted on the issue and define one standard age of child.