Senate session: Resolution unanimously passed against Indian illegal occupation of occupied Kashmir

On October 27 India illegally occupied Kashmir, this House declares Indian occupation as illegitimate, resolution

Islamabad: Senate unanimously passed resolution against Indian illegal occupation of occupied Kashmir, House also passed Iqra Global University, stopping plastic covers on books, Special Technology Zones Authority and Code of Criminal Procedure Amendment Bills.

Senate session was held under chairmanship of Presiding Officer Senator Shahadat Awan. In session, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam presented resolution against Indian illegal occupation of occupied Kashmir.

In Amir Muqam's resolution it was said that on October 27 India illegally occupied Kashmir, we condemn India's forced occupation of occupied Kashmir, this House declares Indian occupation as illegitimate.

In resolution it was said that this House supports Kashmiri people for right to choose their future, House demands from United Nations to implement its resolutions on Kashmir, this House demands that Government of Pakistan continue diplomatic and moral support of Kashmiris.

Later House unanimously approved resolution in favor of Kashmir.

House also passed Iqra Global University, stopping plastic covers on books, Special Technology Zones Authority and Code of Criminal Procedure Amendment Bills while bills for promotion of Iqbaliyat and freeing government administration from colonial system were sent to respective standing committees.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry opposed Passports Amendment Bill, after which House rejected bill. Immigration Amendment Bill and Islamabad Metro Bus Service Bill were deferred. There was debate between Talal Chaudhry and Samina Mumtaz Zehri on bill related to criminal laws, after which approval of bill was deferred.

Consumer Protection Islamabad Amendment Bill presented by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri was opposed by government, however ten votes came in favor of bill and four against and bill was passed.

Senator Rubina Khalid expressed concern over lack of fire safety arrangements in Sunday Bazaar, raising question whether safety arrangements in large shopping malls and plazas are also checked or not.

Ali Zafar expresses reservations on new delimitations

Senator Ali Zafar, referring to newspaper report, said that I express strong reservations in House on new delimitations by Election Commission, boundaries of National and Provincial Assemblies were changed without hearing objections of public, boundaries were changed in constituencies 233, 234, 236, 238, 243, 244 and 245, delimitations have been changed to make specific persons win, Section 22 of Election Act 2017 is being violated, notification of Election Commission should be withdrawn and cancelled immediately, real job of Election Commission is only to conduct transparent and free elections, it should be ensured to listen to public before changing delimitations.

Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that if there is any notification then share it, for now discussion is happening here only on basis of a newspaper report, I will get more information from Election Commission.

Mishal Yousafzai said that for last 20 days serious violation of human rights is ongoing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have become most deprived areas of country, mandate of elected Chief Minister and Speaker of four and a half crore people has been robbed, members of assembly from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are being disappeared, mandate of people was stolen under guise of terrorism narrative, flags and plaques of Tehreek-e-Insaf are being removed, do terrorists appear to you in form of our flags? Sanctity of chadar and chardiwari and Pashtun traditions are being violated.

Senator Mishal Azam Yousafzai presented motion on problems faced by underprivileged class in society and said that our parliamentarians are missing, our Chief Minister is missing, we never violated chadar and chardiwari while in government.

Senator Khalil Tahir Sandhu objected that this motion is something else and something else is being discussed. Presiding Officer told Mishal Yousafzai to confine herself to motion.

Mishal Yousafzai said that we are underprivileged, our rights are being usurped, what else is underprivileged? Our human rights are being violated, mandate of four and a half crore people has been stolen.

During Senator Mishal Azam's speech, bitter exchange took place between government and opposition members, during Senator Mishal Yousafzai's speech Senator Khalil Tahir Sandhu and Senator Nasir Butt stood up. Khalil Tahir Sandhu said that what Mishal is speaking is against Senate rules.

Later Senate session was adjourned till 11:30 am tomorrow.